J 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    COLUMBUS,    OHIO. 
Francis  E.  Marsten,  Pastor. 


n 


AFTER  EIGHTY  YEARS," 


PREPARED   BY 


FRANCIS  E.  MARSTEN. 


^Attend,  ye  people,  lieare  and  learne, 

E'en  of  our  fathers  old.'' 
•  The  just  shall  live  by  faith.'" 


A.     H.     SMYTHE, 
COLUMBUS,  O. 


.^ 


.^ 


Thanks  are  extended  to  W.  D.  Brickell,  Esq.,  for 
permitting  the  use  of  five  of  the  illustrations  of  this 
volume,  and  for  other  courtesies. 


c/Oli¥^-  ^ 


I.   fOESS  i?irM'0}HI(J    S-{ATE    50klRN*L.       , 


CONTENTS. 

Pag*. 

Introduction 5 

Historical  Sketch 10 

The  Early  Church   14 

Pastors  of  the  Church 14 

Ruling  Elders 20 

Outgrowths  of  the  Church     23 

Revivals 26 

Relation  of  Church  to  City 28 

Church  Music 31 

Women  of  the  Church  33 

Church  Edifices 35 

Memorial   Sermon 41 

Faith  of  the  Founders 55 

Obligations  of  Our  Heritage    59 

Former  Pastor's  Greeting 63 

Monday   Services 68 

Greeting  from  Sister  Churches   59 

Letters 71 

Reminiscences 75 

History  of  Sunday  School 78 

Tuesday's  Exercises 86 

Introductory  Remarks   87 

Sketch  of  Isaac  Dalton 88 

Letters 91 

The  Ladies 99 

Greeting  from  Second  Church 102 

Greeting  from  Westminster  Church 106 

Greeting  from  Hoge  Church     110 

Collegiate  Church   Ill 

Eldership  of  Twenty-five  Years  Ago  Ill 

Trustees  of  Twenty-five  Years  Ago 113 

Bits  of  History   113 

Letters  from  Former  Pastors 117 

Bequest  of  the  E3ghtieth  Year 123 

Greeting  from  First  Congregational  Church 123 


1806.  1886. 


EIGHTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 


OF   THE    OEGANrZATlON    OF    THE 


First  Presbyterian  Church, 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO, 


O^zM-n^oca^n^JL     St-ll^^      JSS6. 


Rev.  FRANCIS  E.  MARSTEN,  Pastor. 


The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  -was 

orga7iized  February  8th,  1806,  by  the 

Rev.  yames  Hoge,  D.  D. 


REV.    JAMES    HOGE,    D.    D. 


After  Eighty  Years. 


IN  its  issue  of  Monday,  February  8th,  1886,  the 
Ohio  State  Journal,  of  Columbus,  said  : 

"  Yesterday  was  a  memorable  day  in  the  history  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  services  were 
devoted  exclusively  to  the  commemoration  of  the 
eightieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the 
church.  For  years — in  fact,  ever  since  its  establish- 
ment— the  First  Church  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
bodies  in  the  city,  and  its  members  and  congregation 
have  always  numbered  many  of  the  most  prominent 
and  cultured  people  of  the  Capital  City.  Thirty 
years  ago  the  semi-centennial  was  celebrated  in  a 
most  happy  manner,  and  the  arrangements  for  this 
anniversary  were  prepared  with  the  same  degree  of 
care.  It  is  the  intention  to  continue  the  memorial 
gathering  or  reunion  through  to-day  and  to-morrow, 
the  social  feature  being  set  for  Tuesday  evening." 

The  church  was  appropriately  decorated  with  ever- 
green. The  memorial  tablet  erected  to  the  memory 
of  Dr.  Hoge  was  surrounded  with  a  wreath  of  ever- 


6  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

green,  above  which  was  the  date  "  1806,"  and    on 
the  opposite  side  the  date  "  1886." 

The  following  was  the  order  of  exercises  observed 
on  Sabbath  morning,  February  7th : 

Doxology. 

Invocation. 

Te  Deum  Laiidamus. 

Scripture  Lesson,  90//J  Psalm  : 

Lord,  Thou  hast  been  our  dweUing-place  in  all 
generations. 

Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth,  or 
ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world, 
even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 

Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction ;  and  sayest, 
Return,  ye  children  of  men. 

For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight  are  but  as 
yesterday  when  it  is  past,  and  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 

Thou  carriest  them  away  as  with  a  flood ;  they 
are  as  a  sleep ;  in  the  morning  they  are  like  grass 
which  groweth  up. 

In  the  morning  it  flourisheth,  and  groweth  up; 
in  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  and  withereth. 

For  we  are  consumed  by  thine  anger,  and  by 
thy  wrath  are  we  troubled. 


^^  Old  First  Church"  in  Coiutnbus. 


Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee,  our 
secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 

For  all  our  days  are  passed  away  in  thy  wrath : 
we  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 

The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and 
ten  ;  and  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be  fourscore 
years,  yet  is  their  strength  labor  and  sorrow ;  for  it  is 
soon  cut  off",  and  we  fly  away. 

Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger?  even 
according  to  thy  fear,  so  is  thy  wrath. 

So  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may 
apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom. 

Return,  O  Lord,  how  long?  and  let  it  repent 
thee  concerning  thy  servants. 

O,  satisfy  us  early  with  thy  mercy;  that  we 
may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 

Make  us  glad  according  to  the  days  wherein 
thou  hast  afiiicted  us,  and  the  years  wherein  we  have 
seen  evil. 

Let  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  servants,  and 
thy  glory  unto  their  children. 

And  let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be 
upon  us;  and  established  thou  the  work  of  our  hands 
upon  us ;  yea, the  work  of  our  hands,  estabUsh  thou  it. 


Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

HYMN. 

O,  God  of  Bethel,  b)'  whose  hand 

Thy  people  still  are  fed ; 
Who,  through  this  weary  pilgrimage, 

Hast  all  our  fathers  led. 

Our  vows,  our  prayers,  we  now  present 

Before  Thy  throne  of  grace ; 
God  of  our  fathers,  be  the  God 

Of  their  succeeding  race. 

Through  each  perplexing  path  of  Hfe 
Our  wandering  footsteps  guide  ; 

Give  us  each  day  our  daily  bread, 
And  raiment  fit  provide. 

O,  spread  Thy  covering  wings  around. 
Till  all  our  wanderings  cease. 

And  at  our  Father's  loved  abode 
Our  souls  arrive  in  peace. 

Prayer,  by  Rev.  Robert  J.  Laidlaw. 

Hymn  435,  Presbyterian  Hymnal : 

"  Our  God,  our  help  in  ages  past." 

Historical  Sketch  by  the  Pastor. 

Memorial  Sermon,  Rev.  R.  J.  Laidla^v. 

Prayer. 

Original  Hymn,  written  by  Francis  E.  Marsten. 


Old  First  Church''''  in  Columbus. 


Tine  —  Louvaii. 


Beneath  the  shadow  of  Thy  wing, 

Great  God,  we  bow  with  song  and  prayer^ 
Tribute  of  grateful  hearts  we  bring 

For  all  Thy  providential  care. 
We  thank  Thee  for  our  heritage 

Of  faith  and  hope,  and  love  and  truth^ 
Of  holy  church  and  open  Page 

To  guide  our  feet  in  age  or  youth. 

Our  fathers  trod  the  wilderness  ; 

And  'mid  the  primal  forest  vast, 
In  wintry  hardship  and  distress, 

Where  Hand  Divine  their  lot  had  cast, 
They  reared  to  Thee  the  sacred  shrine ; 

And  kept  the  faith,  Thy  wisdom  willed ; 
With  Heavenly  grace  Thy  house  did  shine, 

As  psalm  and  prayer  its  precincts  filled. 

Our  fathers'  God,  we  serve  Thee,  too ; 

Thy  covenant  our  hope ;  and  may 
We  all,  O  Christ,  our  Master  true, 

Fresli  graces  gain  from  day  to  day. 
As  Thou  hast  blessed  for  fourscore  years 

The  saintly  work  performed  of  yore, 
So  let  Thy  Church,  through  smiles  and  tears, 

Grow  by  Thy  Spirit  evermore. 

BENEDICTION. 


10  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 


HISTORICAL,  SKETCH 


BY    THE    PASTOR,     FRANCIS    E.    MARSTEN. 


On  such  an  occasion  as  this  it  is  well  to  recall  the 
founders  of  this  institution  and  the  foundation  upon 
which  they  built  it.  The  Apostle  Paul  declares, 
"According  to  the  grace  of  God  which  is  given  unto 
me,  as  a  wise  master-builder,  I  have  laid  the  founda- 
tion." These  words  have  a  pecuhar  fitness  to  this 
hour,  from  their  association  in  the  annals  of  the  First 
Church. 

Thirty  years  ago  this  church  celebrated  the  semi- 
centennial of  its  organization  and  of  the  pastorate  of 
Dr.  Hoge,  its  beloved  shepherd.  That  it  was  an  oc- 
casion of  great  joy,  the  written  history  of  the  event, 
and  the  lively  memories  of  those  still  living  among 
us  who  participated  in  the  festival,  alike  fully  testify. 
This  text  was  used  on  that  occasion,  and  woven  into 
one  of  the  many  beautiful  devices  prepared  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Sullivant,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  congregation,  for  that  festival.  I 
reproduce  it  because  of  the  history  which  it  contains  : 

OUR    FOUNDERS. 

"According  to  the  grace  of  God  which  is  given  unto  me, 
as  a  wise  master-huilder  I  have  laid  the  foundation." — 
[l  Cor.  iii.  lo. 

"First  Presbyterian  Church,"  organized  in  Franklin- 
ton  February  8,  1806.     Pastor,  James  Hoge ;  elders, 


'•'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  11 

Robert  Culbertson,  William  Read;  trustees,  Joseph 
Dixon,  John  Dill,  Daniel  Nelson,  William  Domigan, 
Jos.  Hunter,  Lucas  SuUivant.  The  original  members 
of  the  congregation  and  their  families — Robert  Cul- 
bertson, Wm.  Read,  David  Nelson,  Wm.  Shaw.  John 
Turner,  Edward  Livingston,  John  Dill,  William 
Domigan,  Joseph  Dixon,  Lucas  SuUivant,  Samuel 
King,  Luther  Powers,  Samuel  G.  Flenniken,  William 
Stewart,  John  Lisle,  Joseph  Parkes,  David  Jameson, 
John  Hunter,  George  Skidmore,  Joseph  Hunter, 
Wm.  Brown,  Wm.  McElvain.  To  these  may  also  be 
added  the  thirteen  original  members  of  the  church — 
Robert  Culbertson  and  v/ife,  Wm.  Read  and  wife, 
David  Nelson  and  wife.  Robert  Young  and  wife, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Thompson,  Mrs.  Susannah  McCoy, 
Michael  Fisher  and  wife,  and  Miss  Katherine  Kessler. 

It  may  be  seen  that  even  then  the  women  were 
by  far  the  better  half  of  the  church.  To  that  appro- 
priate motto  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  Mr. 
SuUivant  added : 

'Lift  up  thine  ej-es  round  about,  and  see;  all  they  gather 
themselves  together,  they  come  to  thee:  thy  sons  shall 
come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  shall  be  nursed  at  thy 
side." — [Isaiah  Ix,  4. 

And  as  the  generations  have  roUed  on,  how  truly 
has  this  promise  of  Holy  Writ  been  verified  unto  this 
people. 


12  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

It  is  interesting  to  notice  what  led  the  young 
James  Hoge,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  begin  his 
life-work  in  Ohio.  A  slight  sketch  of  his  history  may 
enable  us  the  better  to  appreciate  the  motives  which 
governed  him  in  seeking  the  then  distant  frontier, 
with  its  privations,  its  sparse  settlement,  its  dangers 
from  savages,  border  wars  and  ruffianism. 

James  Hoge,  his  biographer  writes,  was  bom  at 
Moorfield,  Hardy  county,  Va.,  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1784.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  that  state. 
Their  ancestors  were  of  good  old  Scotch  stock,  who 
came  to  America  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth, 
or  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  considerable  eminence  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  From  his  induction  into  the  ministry,  until 
1806  he  was  pastor  of  several  Presbyterian  churches. 
At  that  time  he  was  called  to  the  Presidency  of 
Hampden  and  Sydney  College,  which  position  he 
held  at  the  hour  of  his  death,  in  1822. 

The  future  home  missionary  was  educated  mostly 
at  home,  though  some  years  were  passed  under  the 
training  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Priestly,  who  was  eminent  as 
an  educator  of  that  day.  During  1803-5  Mr.  Hoge 
taught  school  in  Virginia,  and  studied  theology  pri- 
vately; for  there  were  no  theological  seminaries  in 
reach  of  the  young  man  then.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  on  the  17th  of  April,  1805,  by  the  Presbytery 


'•'•Old  First  Church"  in  Coltimbns.  13 

of  Lexington,  Va.  In  October,  1803,  he  made  a 
journey  to  Ohio,  to  see  a  tract  of  land  in  Highland 
county.  So  much  interested  in  the  region  did  he  be- 
come during  his  visit,  that  he  determined  to  make  it 
his  future  home.  After  he  was  Hcensed  to  preach  he 
apphed  for,  and  obtained  an  appointment  as  itinerant 
missionary  in  Ohio,  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  1805. 

From  how  small  beginnings  what  great  results  flow 
in  the  providence  of  God !  When  James  Hoge 
started  out  into  the  great  State  of  Ohio,  it  was  thought 
by  some  of  his  friends  that  he  could  not  Hve  more 
than  a  few  months,  for  already  the  hectic  flush  had 
mounted  to  his  face.  But  the  youth  who  seemed  so 
feeble  was  destined  to  a  long  life,  and  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  great  works  for  the  abiding  good  of 
many  generations.  The  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
assembled  at  Philadelphia,  set  apart  James  Hoge  to 
proceed  to  the  State  of  Ohio  to  preach  the  gospel ; 
and  in  order  to  define  carefully  the  territory  over 
which  this  bishop  was  to  exercise  jurisdiction,  the 
commission  included  the  parts  thereunto  adjacent. 
It  is  not  stated  whether  the  fathers  thought  this  parish 
small  enough  for  a  sick  man  or  not. 

Here  he  wrought  for  God  and  humnnity ;  and  here 
his  descendants  and  their  families  are  continuing  the 
good  work  he  so  well  began. 


14  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

THE    EARLY    CHURCH. 

In  November  of  1805,  James  Hoge  arrived  in 
Franklinton,  then  the  prominent  settlement  in  Cen- 
tral Ohio.  He,  according  to  his  commission,  and 
with  his  wonted  enthusiasm  in  proclaiming  the  gospel, 
began  at  once  to  preach.  His  first  services  were  held  in 
a  two-story  frame  house,  an  engraving  of  which  is  care- 
fully preserved  among  the  historical  relics  of  ye  olden 
time.     Those    were  primitive   in    Ohio.  tt  e 

little  was  known  about  the  region,  especially  as  to  its 
possible  development.  It  was  the  day  of  small 
things.  He  continued  to  preach,  and  on  the  8th  of 
February,  1806,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was 
organized,  and  on  the  next  Sabbath  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  administered  to  thirteen  members  and  com- 
municants. TJiis  was  the  first  church  of  atiy 
denomination  that  was  organized  within  these  limits, 
now  known  as  the  city  of  Columbus. 

PASTORS    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  first  call  extended  by  the 
church  to  Rev.  James  Hoge : 

"  The  congregation  of  Franklinton  being  on  sufficient 
grounds  well  satisfied  of  the  ministerial  quafifications 
of  you,  James  Hoge,  and  having  good  hopes  from  our 
past  experience  of  your  labours,  that  your  ministra- 
tions in  the  gospel  will  be  profitable  to  our  spiritual 


HOUSE    IN    WHICH    THE    CONGREGATION    FIRST    WORSHIPPED    IN    FRANKLINTON.    1806. 


"'Old  First  Church'''  in   Columbus.  15 


interests,  do  earnestly  call  and  desire  yon  to  under- 
take the  pastoral  office  in  said  congregation,  promis- 
ing you,  in  the  discharge  of  your  duty,  all  proper  supv- 
port,  encouragement  and  obedience  in  the  Lord,  and 
that  you  may  be  free  from  worldly  cares  and  avoca- 
tions we  hereby  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay 
to  you  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  in  half  yearly 
payments  annually  for  three-fourths  of  your  time  until 
we  find  ourselves  able  to  give  a  compensation  for  the 
whole  of  your  time  in  like  proportion  during  the  time 
of  your  being  and  continuing  the  regular  pastor  of 
this  church. 

"  In  testimony  whereof  we  have  respectfully  sub- 
scribed our  names  this  '25th  day  of  September.  Anno 

Domini  1807. 

Robert  Culbertson, 

William  Reed, 

Elders. 

Joseph  Dickson, 

John  Dill, 

David  Nelson, 

William  Domigan, 

Joseph  Hunter, 

Lucas  Sullivant, 

Trustees. 

"  That  t.his  call  was  ))repared  and  forwarded  for  Mr. 
Hoge,  with  the  knowledge  and  at  the  earnest  request 


16  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

of  the  whole  congregation  of  FrankHnton,  is  attested 
to  by  Robert  G.  Wilson." 

When  it  was  deemed  best  to  transfer  the  church 
from  the  West  to  the  East  Side,  ^vith  the  con- 
sent of  Presbytery,  it  was  formally  accomplished  on 
November  19,  1821,  calling  him  to  the  Columbus 
pulpit.     He  accepted  the  call  in  January,  1823. 

In  1850,  at  Dr.  Hoge's  request,  a  co-pastor  was 
elected — Dr.  Josiah  D.  Smith,  then  of  Truro.  He 
was  installed  in  December,  l.'S50,  and  resigned  Jan- 
uary 16,  1854,  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Westminster 
Church,  of  Columbus,  O. 

On  December  24,  1855,  Rev.  David  Hail,  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Allegheny,  was  called  as  co-pastor,  and 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  Februar)-,  185G.  He  re- 
signed in  April,  1857. 

The  congregation  met  February  28,  1857,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  resignation  of  their  pastor. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  of  Westminster,  being  present 
was  invited  to  preside  as  Moderator ;  Mr.  Joseph 
Sullivant  then  offered  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,    This  congregation    has    been  notified 
that  their  pastor.  Rev.  James  Hoge,  has  asked  leave 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Columbus  to  resign  his  charge 
over  this   church   and   congregation,    on  account  of 
advanced  age,  and  consequent  infirmity ;  and  where- 


"  Old  First  Church "  in  Columbus.  17 

as,  in  the  long  and  intimate  acquaintance  that  has 
existed  between  us  and  our  beloved  pastor  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  none  but  feelings  of  the  warmest 
affection,  s\mpathy  and  respect  have  had  a  moment's 
place,  we  are  pained  at  the  thought  that  our  long 
continued  connection  must  be  dissolved,  and  the  fond 
hope  relinquished  that  it  should  continue  as  long 
as  our  beneficent  Father  should  spare  his  most 
useful  life;  but  in  this  event,  as  in  all  that  has  oc- 
curred in  our  previous  intercourse,  it  is  the  desire  of 
the  congregation  to  defer  to  the  expressed  wishes 
and  better  judgment  of  our  beloved  pastor.  There- 
fore, be  it 

'•'•Resolved,  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and 
congregation  of  Columbus,  That  we  do  hereby  ac- 
cede to  the  request  of  our  pastor,  Rev.  James  Hoge, 
preferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Columbus,  to  resign 
his  pastoral  charge  of  this  congregation  ;  and  that  his 
relation  therewith  be  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  at 
the  ensuing  spring  meeting. 

•'  Resolved,  That  in  thus  consenting  this  congrega- 
tion yields  to  a  belief,  reluctantly  admitted,  that  his 
advanced  years  and  enfeebled  health  imperatively 
demands  relief  from  care  and  constant  labor;  while 
submitting  to  this  necessity  we  yet  hope  and  pray 
that  he  may  long  be  spared  to  exemplify,  as  hereto- 
fore, the  Christian  doctrine  in  our  midst,  and  before 


18  Eight  Decades  in  the  Lift  of  the 


the  people  of  this  city  and  State,  and  that  so  far  as 
is  practicable  we  may  not  be  deprived  of  his  enhght- 
ened  counsel  in  the  congregation,  but  as  a  'father  in 
Israel,'  he  may  still  go  out  and  in  amongst  us,  teach- 
ing us  by  his  life  of  faith,  and  filling  our  pulpit  from 
time  to  time  whenever  he  may  be  able  to  proclaim 
the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 

'■'■Resolved,  That  in  looking  backwards  we  now 
clearly  recognize  the  hand  of  Providence  in  raising  up 
a  man  of  eminent  prudence  and  ability,  and  sending 
him  forth  to  plant  the  church  literally  in  the  wilderness  ; 
and  we  acknowledge  with  fervent  feelings  of  unfeigned 
gratitude  the  kindness  and  benevolence  of  the  'Great 
Head  of  the  church'  in  continuing  his  very  able  and 
acceptable  ministrations  among  us  for  such  a  length 
of  time,  and  for  the  great  measure  of  success  and 
influence  that  has  attended  the  same ;  an  influence 
not  confined  to  the  pulpit  or  this  congregation,  but 
which  has  been  constantly  operating  on  this  com- 
munity for  now  more  than  fifty  years. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  prayers  and  our  sympathies 
shall  still  accompany  our  pastor ;  that  his  memory 
shall  be  warmly  cherished,  and  that  we  will  teach  his 
name  to  our  children,  and  to  our  children's  children, 
as  one  endeared  to  us  during  numberless  occasions  of 
sorrow  and  of  joy,  'who  instant  in  season  and  out  of 
season,'    has   so   faithfully   and   kind'y   siiown  i;s  the 


'•''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  19 

path  of  life,  and  nobly  entitled  to  the  plaudit  of  his 
Lord,  '  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant.' 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  duly 
attested,  be  presented  to  the  Clerk  of  Columbus  Pres- 
bytery, and  to  our  beloved  pastor. 

"J.  D.  Smith,  Moderator." 

The  Rev.  Edgar  Woods,  of  Wheeling,  Virginia, 
having  for  some  time  preached  to  the  congregation, 
and  performed  other  ministerial  duties  with  great 
acceptance,  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Dr. 
Hoge,  which  was  appointed  to  take  effect  on  the  30th 
of  June,  his  salary  fixed  at  fifteen  hundred  dollars, 
and  the  session  and  trustees  were  directed  May  4th, 
1857,  to  make  out  a  call  and  prosecute  it  to  comple- 
tion according  to  the  rules  of  the  church.  Sabbath 
day,  June  28,  1857,  Dr.  Hoge  preached  the  closing 
sermon  of  his  ministry  as  pastor  of  this  church,  after 
a  connection  of  over  half  a  century. 

Tuesday,  June  30th,  1857,  Rev.  Edgar  Woods, 
pastor- elect  of  this  church,  was  installed  by  a  com- 
mittee of  Columbus  Presbytery,  consisting  of  Rev. 
James  Hoge,  D.  D.,  J.  D.  Smith,  D.  D.,  G.  L.  Kalb 
and  Washington  Maynard,  and  Elder  William  Blynn. 
Rev.  Edgar  Woods  resigned  his  charge  February, 
1862,  with  the  intention  of  returning  to  Virginia  j 
and  under  date  of  February  27th,  1862,  we  find  the 
following  record  of  the  session  : 


20  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

"The  pastor,  Rev.  Edgar  Woods,  having  resigned, 
the  session,  after  consultation,  agreed  to  visit  Rev. 
James  Hoge,  D.  D.,  this  day  in  a  body,  to  state  to 
him  our  condition  and  solicit  his  adv'ice.  The  kind 
doctor  received  us.  Elders  Abbot,  Cherry,  Dalton, 
Thomas  and  Awl,  at  his  residence  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  in  the  most  cordial  and  affectionate 
manner,  showing  the  deepest  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  congregation,  and  giving  us  the  full  benefit  of 
his  mature  judgment  and  excellent  counsel.  He  is 
now  in  the  .seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the 
full  enjoyment  of  all  his  strong  faculties.  We  had  a 
profitable  and  most  delightful  interview. 

"  William  M.  Awl,  Clerk." 

In  the  following  October  Rev.  W.  C.  Roberts,  of 
Wilmington,  Del.,  was  called,  and  was  installed  No- 
vember 11,  1862.  The  venerable  and  beloved  Dr. 
Hoge  died  on  September  22,  1863.  In  December, 
1864,  Mr.  Roberts  resigned.  A  call  was  extended 
to  Rev.  William  R.  Marshall  in  February,  1865,  who 
accepted,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  the  following 
month.  Dr.  Marshall  resigning  December  20,  1869, 
the  church  remained  without  a  pastor  until  the  spring 
of  1871,  when  it  called  Rev.  Robert  J.  Laidlaw,  of 
Milton,  Canada,  who  was  ordained  and  installed  Sep- 
tember 22,  1871.  Mr.  Laidlaw  resigned  in  April, 
1875.     In  July  of  the  same  year  Rev.   Edward  P. 


^^ Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  21 

Heberton,  of  Minnesota,  was  called,  and  entered 
upon  his  ministrations  September  5,  1875.  He  re- 
signed February  21,  1877,  and  on  May  28,  1877, 
Rev.  Willis  Lord,  D.  D.,  was  called  and  remained  as 
a  stated  supply  for  two  years  and  six  months.  Rev. 
John  W.  Bailey,  D.  D.,  of  Sparta,  III,  was  called 
December  21,  1880,  and  continued  to  supply  the 
pulpit  as  pastor  of  the  church  for  two  years. 

I  have  carefully  looked  over  the  records  of  these 
pastorates,  so  far  as  preserved,  and  from  a  peru- 
sal of  the  minutes  of  the  congregational  meetings 
of  the  church,  the  historian  and  antiquarian  will  be 
struck  by  the  redundance  of  almost  superhuman  vir- 
tues and  angelic  traits  of  character  that  adorned 
each  individual  of  them. 

The  present  pastor  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Columbus,  October  4,  1883. 

THE    RULING  ELDERS 

since  organization  are  as  follows: 

Robert  Culbertson Ordained  February  9,  1806. 

Judge  Wm.  Reed "  " 

Michael  Fisher "  January  11,  1808. 

William  Stewart "  Feb.  20,        1819. 

Robert  Nelson "  " 

John  Laughry "  "  " 

James  Johnson Installed  Feb.  12,  " 


22  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

Hugh  Forster Ordained  February  12, 1819. 

William  Patterson "  August  20,  1821. 

John  Long "  "               " 

N.  W.  Smith Records  of  time  lost. 

James  Robinson "  •' 

Samuel  G.  Flenniken...          "  " 

Samuel  M.  Kilgore "  " 

William  Clayvough "  " 

Ral]jh  Osborn "  " 

Dr.  N.  M.Miller 

John  Barr .  .Ordained  and  install'd,  1835. 

Abrel  Forster "  "             " 

Isaac  Dalton "  "             " 

William  Sterritt ....  "  "            " 

Lawson    McCullough.  .  .Ordained  April  1,         1840. 

Walter  x\mos "  "                   " 

James   Cherry "  "                   " 

George  Mclvlillan "  June,            1849. 

H.  F.  Huntington "  May  4,         1846. 

Thomas  Moodie "  "                 " 

James  S.  Abbott "  June,                " 

William  Blynn 

William  M.  Awl,  M.  D . .  "  April  19,      1857. 

*Alfred  Thomas "  " 

James  H.  Pooley,  M.  D .  "  Nov.  19,       1876. 

Thomas   Robinson "  "            •    " 

*Charles  Albert   Bowe..  "  " 


'■^  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  23 

Orlando  E.  Lewis Ordained  September,    1883. 

*John  N.  Eldridge •'  " 

*Foster  Copeland "  " 

*Edward   M.  Doty "  October,       1885. 

*VVilliam  Enfield 

*Charles  E.  Denton "  " 

*Henry  E.  Brooks "  " 

These  '•■  compose  the  present  session. 

THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  following  Church  organizations  liave  grown 
out  of  this  parent  Church : 

"Truro  Presbyterian  Church,"  organized  Janu- 
ary 4,  1827. 

"  Second  Pre.sbyterian  Church  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,"  organized  January  29,  1839. 

"The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Columbus,"  organized  April  19,  1854. 

'"The  Hoge  Presbyterian  Church,"  organized 
January  22,  1870. 

The  "  Truro  Church,"  eldest  daughter  of  the 
old  mother,  was  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Co- 
lumbus January  4,  1827.  It  began  with  about  thirty 
members,  having  William  Patterson  and  John  Long  as 
Ruling  Elders.  In  its  days  of  greatest  prosperity  it 
numbered  nearly  one  hundred  members.     From  the 


24  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

Truro   Church   came   the    Rev.  J.  D.  Smith,  so  long 
and  so  favorably  known  in  Columbus. 

In  tlie  summer  and  autumn  of  183S,  the  subject  of 
colonizing  was  agitated  among  a  portion  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Church.  It  was  the  intention  at  the 
time  to  form  a  Congregational  Church.  A  prelimi- 
nary meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held  January  22, 
1839.  Some  twenty  persons  from  the  First  Church 
joined  in  the  movement.  By  these  it  was  resolved 
on  the  29th  of  January,  1839,  to  organize  a  society 
to  be  called  the  "  First  Congregational  Society 
of  the  City  of  Columbus."  But  before  the  end 
of  the  month  this  body  of  people  showed  their 
wisdom  and  appreciation  of  Republican  institu- 
tions by  changing  the  organization  into  "  The 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Columbus,"  a  title 
still  retained.  The  movement  has  prospered,  and 
the  large  and  wealthy  congregation  of  the  "  Sec- 
ond" has  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  planting  the 
new  church ;  and  while  the  mother  still  dwells  in 
her  old  cottage,  the  daughter  goes  in  and  out  of 
her  stately  palace. 

During  the  years  of  1850-51  the  subject  of  an- 
other colony  was  frequently  talked  of  and  urged  by 
the  aged  pastor.  This  agitation  resulted  in  the  pre- 
sentation to  Presbytery  of  a  memorial  by  fifty-nine 
members  of  the   First  Church  to  be  organized  as  a 


"'Old  First  Church'^  iii  Columbus.  25 

separate  church.  The  request  was  granted  April 
19,  1854,  and  the  Westminster  Church  of  Columbus, 
the  third  daughter,  began  a  Hfe  which,  under  God,  is 
destined  to  years  of  vigor  and  usefuhiess. 

Sixteen  years  ago  the  attention  of  Presbyterians 
was  turned  to  the  needs  of  the  northern  part  of  the 
city,  and  Hoge  Chapel  was  built,  and  a  church  or- 
ganized which  has  been  carrying  on,  with  the  help  of 
the  mother  church,  a  successful  work  for  the  Master 
ever  since.  The  location  of  the  building  was  unfor- 
tunate; but  the  time  is  now  ripe  for  this  church  to 
move  into  a  better  neighborhood,  and  one  in  which 
the  proclamation  of  the  gospel  can  be  made  under 
more  auspicious  circumstances. 

Again  the  spirit  of  grov/th  has  possessed  the  suc- 
cessors of  the  former  generation,  and  the  present  and 
future  outlook  for  our  denominational  work  is  most 
promising.  Let  us  lift  high  the  standard,  and  go  for- 
ward to  possess  the  fullness  of  our  heritage.  The 
north  and  the  east  are  aHke  uttering  the  Macedonian 
cry.  We,  as  Presbyterians,  will  be  false  to  our  trusts 
unless  the  next  decade  beholds  a  great  work  for 
church  extension  within  the  Hmits  of  our  city.  It  is 
hoped  that  the  Collegiate  Presbyterian  Church,  another 
planting  of  the  First  Church,  will  soon  grow  from  a 
colleague  into  an  independent  stronghold  of  the  faith. 


26  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

REVIVALS. 

The  old  church  was  repeatedly  visited  with  the 
outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  These  revival  seasons 
were  deep,  quiet  movements.  The  stately  nature  of 
the  pastor  naturally  gave  direction  to  them.  The 
great  spiritual  awakening  of  1857-58  was  shared  in 
by  this  church,  in  common  with  the  churches  of  God 
all  over  the  land. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  the  daily  prayer  meet- 
ing, held  in  the  basement  of  the  old  church,  was  com- 
menced. 

It  was  a  union  meeting  of  all  the  churches  around 
the  square.  When  started,  the  purpose  of  the  leaders 
was  to  continue  a  special  service  for  spiritual  quick- 
ening for  a  few  weeks  only.  But  the  Spirit  of  God 
came  down  with  power,  and  the  effort  of  a  day 
merged  into  a  service  that  continued  without  inter- 
mission from  the  13th  of  March,  1858,  for  about 
seventeen  years.  It  opened  at  half-past  eight  in  the 
morning  and  lasted  for  half  an  hour. 

The  leader  of  one  day  secured  a  leader  for  the 
next.  Many  now  living  can  remember  the  power  for 
good  which  flowed  out  from  these  services.  The  at- 
tendance for  a  long  time  taxed  the  utmost  capacity  of 
the  upper  sanctuary. 

The  spiritual  quickening  received  from  these  daily 
gatherings  the  records  of  eternity  will  alone  reveal. 


'■'■Old  First  Church'''  in  Columbus.  27 

A  number  of  pleasing  incidents  are  handed  down, 
some  of  which  are  not  unworthy  of  a  place  in  a  col- 
lection that  is  in  a  sense  a  mirror  of  the  past. 

Hon.  Chauncey  N.  Olds  and  Judge  J.  W.  Baldwin 
were  among  the  constant  attendants  at  these  morn- 
ing meetings.  One  morning,  as  they  were  coming 
out,  one  said  to  the  other:  "We  were  at  the  com- 
mencement of  these  prayer  meetings ;  let  us  be  the 
two  who  will  hold  out  the  longest,"  and  they  mutually 
agreed  to  this  proposition.  And  these  two  brethren 
had  the  honor  to  be  the  last  attendants.  They  met 
and  with  the  most  tender  services  brought  the 
long  series  to  its  close.  No  wonder  that  life-long 
friendships  were  cemented  by  such  holy  ties  as  these. 

One  morning  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gowdy,  pastor  of  the 
U.  P.  Church  in  Columbus,  was  called  upon  to  lead 
the  brethren.  He  modestly  arose  and  apologized  for 
being  compelled  to  decline,  as  he  could  not  sing 
hymns.  On  account  of  his  conscientious  scruples  in 
this  regard,  the  venerable  Dr.  Hoge  immediately  re- 
lieved him  of  his  embarrassment  b}-  avowing  that  the 
brethren  would  all  join  in  singing  Rousses'  version  of 
the  psalms  for  that  day.     And  psalms  they  sang. 

Again,  one  morning  no  male  was  present  to  lead 
the  devotions,  and  Miss  Clark,  well  known  in  the 
community  in  those  days,  went  up  to  the  desk  and 


28  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

read  the  12th  psalm,  beginning,  "Help  Lord,  for  the 
Godly  man  ceaseth." 

THE    RELATION    OF   THE    CHURCH    TO    THE    GROWTH  OF 
THE  CITY. 

The  founders  of  this  church  were  men  and  women 
of  the  most  sterling  piety.  They  believed  in  the 
Bible,  they  held  with  firm  tenacity  the  faith  once  de- 
livered to  the  saints. 

So  the  First  Church  has  played  no  unimportant 
part  through  many  of  its  leading  members  in  shaping 
the  educational  and  charitable  institutions  of  the  city. 
Those  in  its  connection  were  the  leading  business 
men  of  the  old  city,  and  their  successors  are  still  in 
the  van  of  progress  in  commercial,  social,  charitable 
and  religious  improvement. 

The  grand  State  philanthropies,  whose  buildings 
adorn  our  streets  and  suburbs,  attest  the  great  and 
statesman-like  quaHties  of  the  mind  of  the  first  pastor 
of  this  church.  The  impression  that  this  man  made 
on  a  journalist  of  thirty  years  ago  is  well  voiced  in  the 
report  of  the  proceedings,  at  the  festival  of  the  semi- 
centennial, in  a  newspaper  of  the  period:  "The 
reverened  and  beloved  teacher  who  first  ministered 
at  the  humble  altars  in  the  wilderness,  still  lives  to 
consecrate  the  occasion  with  his  presence,  and  to 
receive  the  salutations  of  the  second  and  third  gen- 


^'- Old  First  Church''  in  Columbns.  29 

erations  of  those  whom  he  has  gathered  into  the  fold 
of  the  Divine  Master." 

And  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
brethren  of  the  ministry  is  fully  exemplified  by  the 
following  minute,  culled  from  the  records  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. In  dissolving  this  relation  the  Presbytery 
made  this  record:  "In  terminating  this  pastoral 
connection  of  nearly  half  a  century's  standing.  Pres- 
bytery would,  with  sincere  gratitude  to  the  Head  of 
the  church,  recognize  the  goodness  and  mercy  shown, 
in  sparing  the  life  and  health  of  this  revered  father 
in  the  ministry  for  so  many  years;  in  granting  him 
so  much  success  in  the  immediate  sphere  of  his 
labors,  and  in  raising  him  to  a  position  of  influence, 
which  has  been  so  widely  and  beneficently  felt,  and 
by  which  his  name  has  obtained  a  distinguished  place 
among  the  ministers  of  our  country." 

In  1856  the  oldest  living  member  of  the  church  was 
Robert  W.  McCoy,  whose  upright  character,  and 
straight-forward  business  activity  had  impressed  itself 
upon  this  community  for  a  period  of  forty-five  years. 
Another  man  to  whom  this  city  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
is  Dr.  William  Maclay  Awl,  who  for  fifty-six  years 
was  connected  with  this  church.  His  life  seems  to 
have  been  devoted  to  religion  and  works  of  charity. 
His  biographer  says  of  him,  that  "his  care  and  self- 
denying  labor  assisted  at  the  birth  and  early  struggles 


30  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

of  nearly  all  of  the  magnificent  charities  of  which  the 
commonwealth  of  Ohio  is  so  justly  proud.  Every- 
where and  always  his  Christian  integrity,  wisdom  and 
moderation  made  him  a  valued  counsellor." 

Still  another,  whose  life  in  a  quieter  sphere  did  not 
a  little  to  impress  the  business  world  with  value  of 
Christian  integrity,  was  Isaac  Dalton,  who  for  fifty 
years  was  a  member  of  this  household  of  faith, 
forty-five  of  which  he  was  a  beloved  and  revered 
elder. 

As  a  sketch  of  his  life  and  work  is  to  be  given  at 
another  service  during  these  anniversary  meetings,  I 
forbear  to  speak  further  of  him  now.  It  is  such  men 
who  honor  the  Gospel,  and  being  dead,  yet  speak  in 
the  conscious  and  unconscious  influence  they  have 
exerted  on  succeding  life. 

Many  from  the  church,  from  time  to  time,  have 
thus  impressed  themselves  upon  nearly  every  depart- 
ment of  our  city's  life.  Scarcely  an  institution  that 
has  been  an  honor  or  a  blessing  to  Central  Ohio  that 
has  not  felt  the  moulding  hand  of  one  or  more  mem- 
bers of  the  old  First  Church.  And  as  I,  well  nigh  a 
stranger  to  our  institutions  and  history,  have  delved 
in  the  musty  records  of  the  past,  my  admiration  for 
the  qualities  of  brain  and  heart  of  the  founders  of 
this  church,  and  their  immediate  successors,  has  grown 
with  every  fresh  revelation  of  the  grand  and  inspiring 


'•'■  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  31 

way  they  sought  to  shape  the  destinies  of  this  city 
and  commonwealth.  More  and  more  have  I  been 
impressed  with  the  fact  that  our  devotion  to  rehgion 
should  broaden  all  our  perceptions  and  consecrate 
all  our  faculties  to  the  social,  political  and  moral 
improvement  of  our  fellow  men. 

CHURCH    MUSIC. 

About  1839  the  congregation  began  to  be  agitated 
about  church  music.  In  the  old  days  in  Franklinton, 
and  when  the  people  worshipped  in  •'  Trinity  in 
Unity,"  the  church  singing  was  performed  with  the 
aid  of  no  more  formidable  instrument  than  a  tuning 
fork. 

The  pious  elder  who  led  the  singing  stood  up  be- 
fore the  audience  and  hned  off  the  hymn,  and  then, 
with  nasal  twang  to  the  voice  and  a  see-saw  motion 
to  the  arm,  helped  the  congregation  sing  the  praises 
of  the  Lord.  But  some  of  the  people  felt  that  the 
praises  of  God  could  be  the  better  rendered  by  the 
assistance  of  some  kind  of  musical  instrument. 
But  the  opposition  was  strong,  and  the  frowns  on 
such  ungodly  measures  were  deep  and  ominous.  Yet 
there  was  one  man  who  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 
He  was  none  other  than  the  saintly  Elder  Dalton. 
Tradition  says  that  he  caused  a  base  viol  to  be  con- 
structed in   the  secret  of  his  own  workshop,  and  at 


32  FAght  Decades  i?i  the  Life  of  the 

the  appointed  time  had  it  conveyed  to  the  organ  gal- 
lery, wiiere  the  choir  were  wont  to  dispense  sv,-eet  har- 
mony. Hidden  from  the  view  of  the  congregation  it 
was  played  very  softly.  Such  a  voice,  as  helped  in 
the  worship  that  morning,  the  old  people  had  never 
heard.  "  Why  don't  you  give  us  such  singing  every 
Sabbath  ?"  queried  the  old  folks  of  the  opposition. 
Being  thus  captured  with  guile  the  objectors  gave  in, 
and  instrumental  music  became  a  factor  in  the 
routine  of  divine  service  in  the  Old  First. 

Mr.  Joseph  SuUivant,  as  he  reviewed  the  history  of 
the  period,  says :  "About  this  time,  also,  occurred 
one  of  those  simple  events  which  show  that  even  a 
church  must  keep  pace  with  the  times ;  it  was  the 
introduction  of  an  organ  into  public  worship.  Grave 
doubts  and  fears  were  expressed  by  some  of  the  older 
members  as  to  its  effects  upon  the  congregation. 
But  the  ladies  were  unanimous  for  it,  and  while  the 
men  doubted  and  discussed,  they  carried  the  day,  and 
decided  the  matter  by  declaring  that  they  would  get 
it  themselves  and  pay  for  it.  They  diligently  labored 
for  the  purpose,  and  brought  in  the  congregation  to 
help  them  at  last." 

Mr.  Sullivant  sa}'S  he  well  recollects  when  he  heard 
the  organ  for  the  first  time  pealing  forth  its  solemn 
notes  in  what  was  then  thought  to  be  the  '•  lofty 
nave"   of  tl^e   church;  and   how    his  thoughts   trav- 


"  Old  First  Church "  in  Columbus.  33 

eled  back  to  his  boyhood,  when  he  sat  in  the  old 
Frankhnton  church,  and  a  venerable  elder  stepped 
forth  with  solemn  and  measured  tread  to  take  his 
place  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  '•  and  with  a  few  sonorous 
efforts  to  clear  his  tliroat,  with  uplifted  hand  and 
sawing  motion,  pitched  tlie  tune  for  the  congregation." 
The  extreme  of  modern  ])rogress  in  this  direction 
is,  when  an  artistic  latter-day  choir  tickle  the  aesthetic 
ear  of  the  listless  and  fashionable  congregation  with 
soft  operatic  airs  at  an  expense  of  thousands  per 
annum. 

THE  WOMKN  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

From  the  very  beginning  the  women  have  been  a 
strong  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  the  church.  Form- 
ing a  large  proportion  of  its  membership,  the  enter- 
prises in  which  the  church  has  engaged  have  always 
proved  successful  when  the  brethren  have  called  the 
charmed  presence  of  the  sisters  to  their  side.  When 
the  worthies  of  the  past  wanted  to  build  a  new  church, 
they  sought  the  assistance  of  the  ladies.  If  an  organ 
was  needed  the  good  sisters  were  left  to  raise  the 
funds  with  which  to  pay  for  it.  The  marvelous 
poverty  in  money  and  resource  of  the  male  portion  of 
the  church  is  speedily  discovered  when  one  looks  over 
the  records  of  the  session  and  trustees.  Even  so 
late  as  the  time  when  the  chapel  which  covers  the  rear 


34  Eight  Decades  in  the  Lift,  of  the 

of  the  church  lot  was  built,  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  could  discover  no  way  under  the 
sun  that  so  costly  and  arduous  an  undertaking  as 
building  a  chapel  could  be  wrestled  with,  until  one 
magnanimous  soul  suggested,  "We  might  call  on  the 
ladies."  The  alacrity  with  which  it  was  done  and  the 
ready  response  that  the  ladies  gave  is  witnessed  by  our 
commodious  chapel,  which  is  conceded  to  be  a  more 
cheerful  place  of  worship  than  the  dingy  basement  in 
which  the  fathers  studied  the  Westminster  catechism 
and  wrestled  with  the  angel  of  prayer. 

It  is  fitting  the  fact  be  recalled  just  here,  that  it 
was  owing  to  the  efficient  leadership  of  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Campbell  that  our  cliapel  was  ever  erected.  She, 
as  President  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  in  every 
way  manifested  her  ability  to  direct  in  church  affairs. 
When  her  pastor  went  to  her  in  his  despondency, 
after  being  repulsed  by  the  brethren  on  account  of 
of  what  appeared  to  them  the  colossal  eminence  of 
the  task,  and  opened  to  her  his  plans  and  and  hopes, 
her  liberal  soul  exclaimed,  "It  shall  be  done  at 
once."  It  was  done.  May  her  devout  and  unselfish 
spirit  possess  the  child  of  her  love  !  When  she  moved 
in  an  enterprise,  as  if  by  magic  her  magnetic  soul 
saw  and  led  the  way  to  victory.  May  our  present 
president,  her  sucessor,  go  on  as  she  has  begun  in  the 
heroic  pathway  of  this  sainted  daughter  of  the  church. 


FIRST    REGULAR    CHURCH    IN    FRANKLINTON,    1811. 
Gift  of  Mr.  Lucas  Sullivant. 


'•'Old  First  Chui-ch'''  in  Columbus.  35 

The  way  to  victory  is  to  lead  in  the  path  of  self- 
denial  and  danger. 

All  honor  to  the  women  of  the  old  First  Church; 
may  they  continue  in  the  future,  as  they  have  done  in 
the  past,  to  direct  its  progress  and  inspire  its  activi- 
ties. 

To  the  ladies  is  due  the  reputation  that  the  church 
has  so  long  and  justly  sustained  of  being  the  mission- 
ary church  of  the  denomination  in  central  Ohio. 
Their  zeal  and  activity  in  the  home  and  foreign  work 
has  cheered  many  a  laborer  on  the  desolate  frontier, 
and  carried  many  a  page  of  the  Gospel  to  heathen 
shores.  When  the  fiftieth  anniversary  came  'round, 
it  was  the  ladies  whose  energy  and  zeal  seconded  the 
enthusiasm  of  that  rare  scholar  and  antiquarian,  Mr. 
Sullivant,  and  made  the  occasion  an  imposing  success. 
Again  I  say  all  honor  to  our  ladies.  I  will  not  stop 
here  to  mention  the  names  of  those  who  have  been 
leaders  in  every  good  work;  they  will  receive  recogni- 
tion later  in  these  services. 

THE  EDIFICES  IN  WHICH  THE  CHURCH  HAS   WORSHIPED. 

The  church  which  was  organized  in  a  private 
house  in  Franklinton  was  the  first  church  of  any  de- 
nomination in  the  limits  of  central  Ohio.  The  con- 
gregation continued  for  some  little  time  to  worship 
here.     The  call  of  that  First  Church  to  its  first  pastor 


36  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

Rev.  James  Hoge,  is  before  you  all  to-day.  [The 
ancient  call,  neatly  framed,  occupied  a  niche  in  front 
of  the  pulpit].  In  1812  a  brick  house  was  erected 
for  the  accomodation  of  the  congregation.  This  was 
built  mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  Lucas 
SuUivant.  The  war  being  then  in  its  height,  the 
government  took  possession  of  this  frontier  church 
for  a  store-house.  In  March,  1813,  a  violent  storm 
blew  in  the  gable  end  of  the  building;  a  large  quantity 
of  grain  stored  within  was  wet,  and  as  a  result  its 
swelling  burst  the  walls  asunder,  and  the  building  was 
destroyed.  The  government,  however,  paid  for  it. 
In  1815  a  new  house  of  worship  was  erected.  It  was 
located  on  the  edge  of  the  village  on  the  western 
bank  of  the  Scioto  river.  It  had  a  fine  situation, 
commanding  a  beautiful  view  of  the  stream,  and  near 
to  the  wooded  island,  known  as  the  "British  island," 
from  the  fact  that  some  war  prisoners  were  confined 
there  a  short  time.  Like  nearly  all  the  old  churches, 
it  was  in  cheerful  proximity  to  a  beautiful  burying 
ground.  In  the  meantime,  while  the  congregation 
was  worshiping  in  Franklinton,  the  east  side  of  the 
town  was  growing  rapidly.  Columbus  began  to  at- 
tract settlers.  The  pastor  of  the  church  found  a 
pleasant  home  on  the  east  side.  About  1814:  he 
began  to  hold  services  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  corner  of 
Spring  and  Third  streets.    Whereas  the  majority  of  the 


^'' Old  First  Church'"  in  Columbus.  37 

congregation  had  now  taken  up  their  residences  at  the 
east  side  of  the  Scioto,  it  was  deemed  expedient  for 
the  accomodation  of  the  congregation  that  ground 
should  be  purchased  and  a  suitable  house  of  worship 
erected  at  the  east  end  of  the  settlement.  The  pastor 
was  most  enthusiastic  in  his  advocacy  of  this  measure, 
although  as  we  may  suppose  it  was  opposed  by  those 
who  had  determined  for  one  reason  or  the  other  not 
to  move  to  the  east  side.  For  the  accomplishment  of 
this  purpose  an  agreement  was  entered  into  and 
money  subscribed.  Among  the  progressive  men  of 
that  period  I  find  the  names  of  Barr,  Osborn,  Miller, 
Brown,  Hoge,  Culbertson,  Loughrey,  Sullivant,  Mc- 
Coy and  Kerr.  Each  of  these  gave  $100  for  the 
new  project.  At  the  corner  of  Front  and  Town  streets 
a  lot  was  secured.  Here  a  frame  house,  costing 
$1,050,  was  built.  Its  modest  dimensions  were  forty 
by  sixty  feet.  It  long  held  the  name  of  "Trinity  in 
Unity,"  on  account  of  its  peculiar  construction,  which 
is  well  represented  in  the  accompanying  cut. 

In  the  old  records  is  an  account  of  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Columbus, 
June  20, 1821.  The  incorporators  were  N.  W.  Smith, 
James  Taylor,  John  Hunter,  David  Taylor,  William 
Leathern,  John  Long,  William  Mcllvaine,  William 
Patterson,  Thomas  Adams,  Dan  Ross,  Andrew  Cul- 
bertson, Robert  Lisle,  W.  W.  Shannon,  John  Thomp- 


38  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

son,  J.  M.  Strain,  Sam  King,  John  Kerr,  Robert  Nel- 
son, Gustavus  Swan,  Lincoln  Goodale,  Henry  Brown, 
John  E.  Baker,  Samuel  Parsons,  James  Dean,  Joseph 
Miller,  James  Cherry,  Samuel  G.  Fleniken,  William 
Long,  John  Loughry,  James  O'Harra,  Robert  W. 
McCoy,  James  Shannon,  Jacob  Overdier,  James 
Lindsay,  Wihiam  Stewart,  John  Barr,  Michael  Fisher, 
John  Starr  and  James  Hoge. 

In  1827,  the  congregation  having  become  convinced 
that  the  meeting  house  in  which  they  worshiped  was 
quite  dilapitated,  unfit  for  divine  service,  and  uncom- 
fortable, a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  de- 
vise plans  and  adopt  measures  for  building  a  new 
house  of  worship.  Messrs.  Gustavus  Swan,  Dr.  L. 
Goodale,  R.  W.  McCoy,  Otis  Crosby,  and  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Parsons,  were  appointed  said  committee.  But 
the  characteristic  feeling  of  poverty  abroad  in  our 
congregation  prevented  any  good  results. 

In  1828,  we  find  the  Trustees  gravely  ordering  that 
Mr.  Brown  purchase  one  half  dozen  sconces  or  candle- 
sticks for  the  meeting  house.  These  sconces  were 
little  pieces  of  tin  suspended  on  the  wall  by  a  nail 
through  the  upper  end,  the  lower  end  being  turned  at 
right  angles,  and  formed  fOr  the  reception  of  a  tallow 
candle.  When  these  were  all  lighted,  the  place  was 
filled  with  a  dim  religious  gloom,  for  their  feeble  rays 
only  served  to  make  darkness  visible. 


PRESENT    CHURCH    BEFORE    ALTERATION. 


'■'■  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  39 

Again  on  January  18,  1830,  it  was  resolved,  that  it 
was  expedient  for  this  Society  to  build  a  meeting- 
house. They  arose  and  built,  but  again  the  star  of 
empire  went  toward  the  east,  and  an  edifice  quite 
imposing  in  those  days  graced  the  public  square.  It 
could  be  said  of  it  then  that  it  was  the  laigest  and 
handsomest  building  in  the  city,  and  Trinity  in  Unity 
became  a  thing  of  the  past. 

On  March  8,  1830,  it  appears  that  Lyne  Starling, 
Gustavus  Swan  and  Robert  W.  McCoy  were  instru- 
mental in  building  this  meeting-house  for  the  congre- 
gation, upon  certain  conditions. 

The  present  edifice  was  remodeled  in  1859.  Since 
then,  the  congregation  has  continued  to  worship  in 
this  structure.  Now,  as  we  come  to  the  80th  anniver- 
sary of  the  church,  the  existing  building  is  occupied 
very  much  under  the  same  conditions  as  prevailed  in 
the  old  Franklinton  church  sixty-seven  years  ago. 

Not  until  May  18,  1852,  were  the  Trustees  re- 
quested to  take  measures  for  lighting  the  church  with 
gas.     To-day  the  electric  light  is  agitated  by  not  a  few. 

In  1856,  the  present  edifice  was  a  regarded  as  a 
spacious  and  elegant  temple,  but  now,  in  the  rapid 
march  of  modern  improvement,  the  times  demand 
changes  equal  to  the  requirements  of  the  rapidly 
growing  population  of  a  great  city. 

Said  the  venerable  pastor  in  his  address  on  the 
fiftieth   anniversary:      "There    has   never   been   any 


40  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

serious  dissension  in  the  congregation  ;  peace  and 
harmony  have  generally  prevailed,  and  the  cases  of 
discipline  have  been  few,  and  have  produced  no 
serious  injury. 

"There  have  been  several  seasons  of  peculiar  religi- 
ous interest  in  the  congregation.  The  first,  perhaps 
the  most  remarkable  instance  of  this  kind,  began  in 
1807,  and  continued  during  the  greater  part  of  two 
years.  In  this  season  there  were  fifty  or  sixty  con- 
verts that  united  with  tlie  church,  increasing  the  num- 
ber four-fold.  Taking  into  consideration  the  number 
who  were  in  the  congregation  as  hearers  of  the  Gospel, 
this  increase  is  seldom  witnessed  in  our  day. 

"Perhaps  twice  as  many  persons  have  united  with 
us  from  other  denominations  as  have  gone  from  this 
church  to  others." 

In  closing  this  sketch,  I  feel  that  I  cannot  do  bet- 
ter than  to  quote  one  of  the  concluding  paragraphs  of 
Mr.  Joseph  SuUivant's  "History  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church."  "The  future  of  this  congregation," 
says  the  historian,  "is  in  the  hands  of  God,  who  has 
promised  to  be  ever  present  with  His  church.  The 
members  may  find  that  the  best  way  to  secure  future 
progress  and  continuance  is  to  be  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  present  duty.  And  when  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  this  church  shall  come  from  afar,  from  the 
North   and  the  South,  from  the  East   and  the  West, 


'■'Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  41 

when  our  with  their  children  shall  gather  themselves 
together  to  celebrate  the  hundreth  anniversary  of  the 
organization  of  this  church;  may  they  have  the  same 
cause  for  thankfulness  for  past  mercies,  and  a  de- 
termination to  make  better  efforts  for  the  future. 
May  they  be  able  to  report  greater  progress  and  the 
accomplishment  of  greater  good,  but  the  same  peace 
and  harmony  which  up  to  this  time  has  characterized 
the  church  founded  bv  their  fathers." 


MEMORIAL,   SERMON, 

Preached  by  Rev.  Robert  J.  Laidlaw,  Pastor  from 
September,  1871,  to  April  1875. 


''And  are  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and 
prophets.  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner-stone: 
In  whom  all  the  building  fitly  framed  together  groweth 
unto  an  holy  temple  to  the  Lord:  In  whom  ye  also  are 
builded  together  for  a  habitation  of  God  through  the 
Spirit." — [Ephesians  ii,  20-22. 

The  word  temple  is  applied  in  Scripture  to  an  indi- 
vidual Christian,  to  a  particular  cluirch,  and  to  the 
redeemed  church  as  a  whole.  From  its  use  in  this 
text  I  invite  you  to  consider  with  me  a  few  features 
of  the  life  of  the  church  that  is  organized  and  built 
up  after  the  Apostohc  ty{)e.  I  will  have  no  reference 
to  the  jieculiar  kind  C'f  edifice  known  as  a  church,  but 


42  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

to  the  men,  women  and  children  who  associate  for 
worship  in  connection  with  such  an  edifice.  The 
church  the  Bible  is  most  concerned  with  is  not  a 
building  composed  of  various  kinds  of  inert  matter, 
reared  into  form  and  sightliness  by  human  hands.  It 
is  a  spiritual  structure,  a  building  of  God,  an  house 
not  made  with  hands. 

Theyfrj-/  thing  to  be  noted  of  it  is  that  it  is  not  in 
man's  power  to  build  it.  Man  may  attend  to  all  the 
forms  connected  with  gathering  human  beings  to- 
gether, and  organizing  and  edifying  them,  but  when 
he  has  done  all,  and  has  called  his  organization  by 
the  Scripture  name,  he  has  no  power  to  breathe  into 
it  the  breath  of  life,  so  that  it  v/ill  become  a  living 
church.  My  text  says,  "  Ye  are  built"  and  it  is 
implied  that  the  work  has  been  done,  not  by  any 
human  artisan,  but  by  a  Higher  Hand.  "  Ye  are 
God's  husbandry :  ye  are  God's  building."  The  Al- 
mighty is  both  the  architect  of  the  edifice  and  the 
foreman  of  the  work.  He  attends  to  the  choosing  of 
the  rough  material,  to  the  hewing  of  it  out  of  the 
rugged  rock,  and  to  the  drawing  of  it  from  the  hole 
of  the  pit  whence  it  is  digged.  The  stones  are  all 
chosen  of  God,  and  precious.  As  workers  together 
with  God  we  are  only  humble  laborers  by  the  day. 
If  we  do  faithfully  and  well  the  work  the  Master  as- 
signs us,  our  responsibihty  ends. 


'•'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  43 

The  second  thing  to  be  noted  of  a  church  of  the 
Apostohc  kind  is  its  foundation — the  Holy  Scriptures 
— called  in  the  text  "  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles 
and  prophets."  In  this  age  of  wondrous  diversity 
people  sometimes  band  together  for  purposes  of  wor- 
ship and  religious  culture,  without  having  any  refer- 
ence to  the  teaching  of  Scripture  in  framing  their  ar- 
ticles of  agreement.  Some  go  further,  and  have  no 
regard  for  the  authority  of  Scripture  in  the  doctrines 
taught.  We  are  sometimes  told  that  the  creed  of 
the  church  of  the  future  will  be  based  upon  the  re- 
searches of  science.  I  am  not  unfriendly  to  science, 
nor  in  the  slightest  degree  opposed  to  accepting  all 
the  light  it  can  furnish.  But  if  you  insist  upon 
making  the  results  of  its  discoveries  the  substance  of 
all  I  shall  teach  to  perishing  men,  I  must  be  allowed 
to  thrust  in  at  least  this  objection,  that  the  whole 
framework  and  constitution  of  nature,  with  which 
science  deals,  belongs  to  an  earlier  period  than  the 
fall  of  man,  and  it  is,  therefore,  not  to  be  expected 
that  we  will  find  anywhere  in  that  generation  a  rem- 
edy for  a  disease  which  not  only  belongs  to  a  later 
formation,  but  was  imported  from  a  clime  to  which 
the  researches  of  science  have  no  access.  It  was  the 
entrance  of  sin  that  made  an  after  revelation  a  neces- 
sity. This  revelation,  therefore,  is  the  Gilead  in 
which  alone  we  can  find  the  needed  balm,  and  it  is 


44  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

only  from  the  lips  of  its   many  inhabitants  we  need 
hope  to  hear  of  the  true  Physician. 

A  church  must  not  only  be  based  upon  Scripture, 
but  upon  the  whole  teaching  of  Scripture.  In  this 
cold  world  a  house  that  is  set  up  on  a  few  pillars,  so 
that  the  winds  can  blov/  and  the  snow  and  ice  collect 
underneath  it,  is  apt  to  be  chilly  and  cheerless.  The 
neighbors  will  seldom  care  to  drop  in  and  spend  an 
evening  with  its  occupants.  There  is  something 
analogous  in  the  life  of  a  church  which  has  for  its 
foundation  only  a  few  separate  scripture  doctrines,  to 
the  neglect  of  the  great  breadth  and  fullness  of  the 
teaching  of  the  Bible.  If  I  rejoice  in  having  but  a 
iQ\N  prominent  truths  as  the  pillars  that  support  my 
church's  creed,  and  neglect  to  fill  up  the  spaces  be- 
between  these  pillars  with  every  word  that  has  pro- 
ceeded out  of  the  mouth  of  God,  words  of  counsel 
and  comfort  and  cheer,  tlien  the  atmosphere  of  my 
church  may  suit  me,  but  to  my  neighbor,  of  opposite 
temperament  and  different  education  and  experience, 
my  church  will  be  comfortless.  And  if  my  neighbor 
sets  up  his  church  upon  a  few  other  skillfully  con- 
trived doctrines,  which  he  regards  as  the  essential 
supports  of  religious  life,  to  the  neglect  of  the  other 
parts  of  Scripture,  then,  while  his  church  may  fairly 
suit  his  convenience,  it  will  not  be  the  place  for  me 
And  so  it  comes  to  pass  that  for  want  of  a  sufficiency 


'■^Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  45 

of  scripture  truth  in  all  its  variety  underlying  the  Hfe 
of  the  different  denominational  organizations,  the 
representatives  of  these  separate  organizations  are 
often  not  as  neighborly  as  they  should  be.  Let  the 
whole  Word  of  God  be  made  the  basis  of  every 
church's  Hfe,  and  then  Baptist  and  Episcopahan, 
Methodist  and  Presbyterian,  will  often  be  found  sit- 
ting by  one  another's  nresides,  enjoying  the  comforts 
of  each  other's  homes.  But  while  a  church  must 
have  the  whole  of  scripture  truth  as  its  basis,  the 
truth  must  not  be  thrown  loosely  beneath  it,  but 
must  be  wisely  gathered  and  compacted  together. 
In  other  words,  tlie  church  must  rest  upon  a  system 
of  truth,  and  must  be  built  up  according  to  definite 
principles  laid  down  in  that  system. 

You  ask  a  man  what  the  basis  of  his  religious  behef 
is,  and  he  answers,  "'The  Bible."  You  ask  again, 
"  But  what  are  the  fundamental  truths  in  your  creed?" 
If  he  answers,  "  I  have  no  creed ;  the  whole  Bible  is 
my  creed,"  you  begin  to  suspect  that  he  has  no 
definite  religious  behef;  he  is  of  the  Anti-Church 
party.  The  words  which  enter  into  the  formation  of 
an  elegant  literary  style  are  all  in  the  dictionary;  but 
if  you  ask  a  man  whose  style  he  most  admires,  Ma- 
caulay's,  or  Johnson's,  or  Addison's,  or  whose,  and 
he  tells  you  he  admires  Webster's  Unabridged  Dic- 
tionary most,  what  will  you  think  ?     The  forest  con- 


46  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

tains  all  the  materials  needed  in  the  building  of  a 
dwelling;  but  if  you  ask  a  man  what  kind  of  a  dwell- 
ing he  prefers,  and  he  says  he  prefers  to  Hve  in  the 
woods,  you  conclude  that  he  is  either  a  savage  or 
insane.  The  Bible  is  a  great  forest.  In  it  are  trees 
of  all  kinds,  and  the  leaves  of  every  one  of  them  are 
for  the  healing  of  the  nations.  In  it  are  all  kinds  of 
fragrant  flowers,  so  that  the  smell  thereof  is  as  Leb- 
anon. In  it  also  are  rocky  steeps,  and  even  wastes  and 
solitary  places,  which  have  their  use.  And  while  it  is 
true  that  one  may  find  a  degree  of  temporary  shelter 
and  much  passing  enjoyment  by  resorting  to  this  vast 
thicket,  yet,  if  he  would  find  in  it  a  home  and  a  per- 
manent resting-place  for  his  soul,  he  must  take  the 
materials  he  finds  so  abundant  in  it,  and  therewith 
build  himself  a  house.  And  this  leads  me  to  note  the 
third  thing  to  be  specially  attended  to  in  the  building 
of  a  church. 

THE    CHIEF    CORNER    STONE. 

The  corner  of  a  building  is  the  most  important 
point  to  be  guarded  in  laying  the  foundation.  It 
is  the  point  at  which  there  is  the  greatest  pres- 
sure by  reason  of  the  meeting  of  two  walls.  In 
every  building  there  are  several  corners.  This  is 
true  of  the  church.  Like  the  great  completed  temple 
above,    of  which  an    earthly  church  is    but    a    poor 


Old  First  Church'^  in  Colianbiis.  47 


miniature,  it  lieth  four  square,  and  the  length  is 
as  large  as  the  breadth.  It  is  important  that  each  of 
the  four  corners  shaU  be  well  supported.  Under  one 
we  find  the  doctrine  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God; 
under  another  the  doctrine  of  the  personality  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  under  a  third  the  doctrine  of  man's  in- 
telligence and  oiiginal  likeness  to  God  ;  but  when  we 
come  to  the  fourth  we  find  that  it  is  the  chief  corner. 
Here  the  treacherous  quicksand  of  man's  sinfulness 
has  been  touched.  Here  the  natural  foundation  is 
most  insecure. 

Yet  it  is  at  this  corner  the  only  door  of  entrance  is. 
It  is  at  this  corner  the  Heaven-reaching  tower  is  built, 
for  here  we  find  laid,  firm  as  the  everlasting  hills, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Rock  of  Ages,  so  that  the  whole 
structure  stands  out  against  the  sky  in  majestic 
grandeur  and  eternal  security.  And  as  we  gaze  in 
thankful  adoration,  that  Rock  which  once  opened  its 
side  and  poured  forth  a  stream  of  blessing  to  satisfy 
all  thirsty  souls,  opens  its  mouth  and  speaks  to  us, 
saying:  "Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  a  chief  corner  stone, 
elect,  pi^ecious ;  and  he  that  believeth  on  him  shall 
not  be  confounded."  Jesus  Christ  is  and  must  al- 
ways be  the  Chief  Corner  Stone.  If  the  life  of  a 
church  be  made  to  rest  on  any  other — on  the  doctrine 
of  the  culture  and  development  of  man's  natural 
powers  apart  from  the  atonement  made  by  Jesus  for 


48  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

human  guilt,  or  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Fatherly  com- 
passion of  God,  irrespective  of  the  finished  work  of 
His  Son,  then  the  house  is  not  securely  built.  "Other 
foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is 
Jesus  Christ." 

The  next  thing  to  be  considered  is  the  rearing  of  a 
church,  or  as  it  is  set  forth  in  the  text,  its  growth — 
"  It  groweth."  A  church  is  not  merely  an  aggrega- 
tion of  human  beings.  It  is  rather  an  amalgamation. 
The  relation  between  the  members  is  not  simply  that 
which  is  formed  by  writing  their  names  on  the  same 
communion  roll,  nor  by  arranging  their  persons  side 
by  side  in  the  same  pew.  In  tlie  church,  which  is 
fashioned  after  the  apostolic  model,  a  process  of  as- 
similation takes  place  among  the  members.  As  they 
worship  together,  they  begin  to  be  of  the  same  mind 
one  toward  another,  and  to  be  of  one  mind  in  regard 
to  many  things.  They  learn  to  love  the  same  kind 
of  spiritual  food,  and  to  receive  the  truth  from  the 
lips  and  heart  of  the  same  man.  They  cease  to  be 
one  for  Paul,  another  for  Apollos,  and  a  third  for  Ce- 
phas. They  become  adjusted  to  one  another  and 
spiritually  unified  ;  or,  in  the  language  of  our  text, 
"fitly  framed  together,"  not  as  to  their  social  tastes 
and  conditions  it  may  be,  and  not  necessarily  in  their 
business  relations,  but  in  Christ.  It  is  by  being  all 
united  to  Him,  and  by  all  possessing  His   mind,  all 


'■^  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  49 

marching  to  His  step,  and  all  having  a  common  in- 
terest in  His  work  and  the  doing  of  His  will  that  the 
unity  comes. 

The  trouble  with  many  church  organizations  is  that 
they  are  not  churches.  They  are  only  congregations. 
The  members  are  not  bound  together  so  as  to  form 
one  body.  They  are  only  gathered  together.  The 
congregation  differs  from  the  church  as  the  heap  of 
untrimmed  stones  differ  from  the  completed  wall.  A 
congregation  does  not  groiv.  It  only  increases  in 
size  by  the  adding  of  new  members,  as  the  stone 
heap  increases  by  the  addition  of  new  stones.  The 
moment  the  idea  of  growth  enters  by  the  members 
being  individually  trimmed  and  pohshed  beneath  the 
molding  hand  of  God's  word — or  the  moment  the  mem- 
bers thus  influenced  are  brought  to  find  and  fill  the 
partic'dar  places  for  which  the  Great  Master  Builder 
has  designed  them,  then  it  ceases  to  be  a  congregation, 
and  becomes  a  church.  A  large  congregation  may 
be  gathered  in  a  year,  or  a  month,  or  perhaps  by  the 
mere  ringng  of  the  bell,  but  it  may  require  years  be- 
fore that  congregation  can  be  so  cemented  together 
that  it  shall  be  a  church  in  which  "  the  whole  body 
fitly  joined  together  and  comijacted  by  that  which 
every  joint  supplieth  maketh  increase  of  the  body 
unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love." 

The  A/j/thing  we  shall  consider  concerning  the  prop- 


50  Eight  Decades  m  the  Life  of  the 

erly  organized  church  is  the  general  direction  and  effect 
Oi"  its  growth.  The  growth  of  some  churches  is  inward 
rather  than  upward.  The  object  of  their  growth  seems 
to  center  upon  themselves  as  material  organizations. 
The  best  part  of  their  energy  is  expended  in  the  ef- 
fort to  live  and  move  and  have  a  respectable  being. 
They  strive  to  have  attractive  brilliance  in  the  pulpit, 
attractive  beauty  in  their  building,  an  attractive  audi- 
ence in  the  pews,  and  a  fair  showing  in  the  columns 
of  the  pubhshed  records  of  their  denomination.  The 
growth  of  some  other  churches  is  outward  rather  than 
upward.  They  have  their  visiting  committees  for 
doing  work  among  the  poor  at  home.  They  have 
their  Home  Mission  workers  and  their  Foreign  Mis- 
sion bands,  their  sewing  circles  and  their  social  gath- 
erings, and  when  these  forms  of  activity  are  the 
evidence  of  real  life  within  they  are  to  be  specially 
commended.  But  it  is  possible  for  a  church  to  ex- 
pend its  energies  in  all  these  directions,  and  still  fail 
to  meet  the  apostolic  requirement.  In  the  ideal 
church  the  main  feature  of  progress  is  m  the  direction 
of  holiness.  "  It  groweth  unto  an  holy  temple  in  the 
Lord."  Every  one  of  its  members  is  builded  into  it 
for  an  habitation  of  God  through  the  spirit.  If  the 
growth  of  the  organization  be  not  in  this  direction  it 
is  not  properly  a  church.  It  dges  not  answer  the 
true  end.     If  it  does  not  make  those    whom  it  gath- 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  51 

ers  into  its  membership  better  men  and  women — 
more  unselfish,  more  gentle,  more  loving,  more  true, 
more  God-like  ;  if  it  has  not  the  effect  of  making 
those  who  wait  upon  its  services  more  Christ-like, 
it  does  not  deserve  tiie  name  of  a  church.  If  it  sim- 
ply furnishes  a  kind  of  instruction  and  entertainment 
suitable  for  Sabbath  hours,  and  affords  its  audiences 
a  convenient  channel  for  the  conveyance  of  their 
weekly  offerings  to  quarters  where  they  may  be 
needed,  it  is  only  a  common  school  with  an  eleemosy- 
nary department  attached,  a  lecture  association  which 
bestows  its  charitable  ])roceeds  upon  worthy  objects, 
and  has  the  power  of  conferring  nameless  degrees  of 
respectability  upon  all  who  attend  upon  its  lecture- 
ships. 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  many  of  the  churches  of  this 
age  are  not  in  the  regular  line  of  Apostolic  succes- 
sion; not  as  to  their  forms  and  usages,  and  outward 
appearance,  but  in  the  essentials  of  their  hfe,  and  in 
the  main  direction  and  effect  of  all  their  services. 
To  which  order  of  churches  does  this  church  belong? 
To  what  class  has  it  belonged  in  the  past,  and  what 
will  be  its  record  in  the  future?  To  many,  if  not  to 
all  of  us,  these  are  questions  of  momentous  interest. 
Most  of  us  who  are  gathered  here  to-day  have  had 
some  share  in  the  moulding  of  this  church's  charac" 
ter,  and  we  have  all  an  account  to  give  of  the  influ- 


52  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

ence  we  have  exerted  upon  its  life.  We  did  not 
organize  it.  It  is  older  than  we.  They  that  founded  it 
as  the  Master's  workmen  have  all  fallen  asleep:  We 
entered  upon  the  work  with  the  foundation  laid — the 
old  foundation  tried  and  sure.  Have  we  built  upon 
this  foundation  gold,  silver,  precious  stones,  wood, 
hay  or  stubble  ?  Have  we  helped  to  build  a  church, 
or  have  we  only  helped  to  add  to  a  congregation  ? 
These  questions  cannot  be  answered  now,  but  they 
will  yet  be  answered,  for  "  Every  man's  work  shall  be 
made  manifest,  for  the  day  shall  declare  it,  because  it 
shall  be  revealed  by  fire,  and  the  fire  shall  try  every 
man's  work  of  what  sort  it  is." 

Dear  friends,  never  has  this  church  been  so  favora- 
bly situated  for  true  growth  as  now.  Never  were 
there  so  many  sacred  memories  and  hallowed  asso- 
ciations connected  with  its  life,  to  bind  its  members 
to  it  and  to  one  another  and  to  Heaven,  whither 
so  many  of  its  members  have  gone.  It  is  by 
their  hearts  being  touched  and  tenderly  iniiuenced 
that  the  members  of  congregations  become  mem- 
bers of  churches.  Cherish  fondly,  then,  every 
tie  of  affection  by  which  God's  house  may  be 
made  dearer  to  your  hearts.  Ye  do  well  to  revive 
the  memories  of  the  years  that  are  gone.  As  ye 
linger  over  the  days  that  are  past,  and  bygone  scenes, 
whether  sad  or  joyous,  are  recalled,  and  the  faces  of 


"Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  53 

the  departed  come  back  to  you  along  the  path  whither 
away  they  went,  and  you  feel  that  during  these  me- 
morial days,  as  you  call  the  long  roll  of  your  venerable 
church — not  the  roll  you  keej)  on  earth,  but  the  com- 
plete roll  which  Godkeejis  in  Heaven,  may  the  season 
be  to  you  one  of  precious  blessing.  Thankful  for  all 
the  souls  that  have  been  born  into  the  kingdom 
here ;  thankful  for  all  the  weary  ones  that  have  been 
refreshed,  the  mourners  that  have  been  comforted, 
the  weak  that  have  been  strengthened,  the  wanderers 
that  have  been  won  back  to  Godj  thankful  that  to 
you  in  God's  rich  mercy  there  is  still  extended  the 
infinite  privilege  of  being  both  blessed  and  made  a 
blessing  in  connection  with  this  dear,  dear  old  church, 
let  your  solemn  vow  be  that  you  will  be  more  devoted 
to  all  its  interests  and  more  faithful  to  all  its  offered 
privileges  than  ever  in  the  past.  May  the  strength 
which  was  given  to  the  first  pastor  of  this  church  to 
fit  him  for  all  the  duties  he  was  honored  during  his 
long  life  to  discharge  be  graciously  given  also  to  its 
present  pastor.  May  his  bow  long  abide  in  strength, 
and  may  the  arms  of  his  hands  be  made  strong  by 
the  iiand  of  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob.  And  th.rough 
the  divine  blessing  vouchsafed  in  Pentecostal  effusion 
and  outpoured  upon  office-bearers  and  ordinary  mem- 
bers and  adherents  alike,  may  this  church  be  a  true 
household  of  the  faith,  knit  together  by  the  bonds  of 


54  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

intimate  spiritual  fellowship,  so  that  even  to  those 
who  are  as  yet  aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of 
Israel,  and  strangers  to  the  covenant  of  promise, 
your  beloved  pastor  may  soon  be  able  to  say,  as  he 
welcomes  them  to  true  fellowship  with  Christ  and 
His  people :  "Now,  therefore,  ye  are  no  more  strangers 
and  foreigners,  but  fellow  citizens  with  the  saints  and 
of  the  household  of  God.  And  are  built  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  Apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ 
Himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone  ;  in  whom  all  the 
building,  fitly  framed  together  groweth  unto  an  holy 
temple  in  the  Lord:  In  whom  ye  also  are  builded 
together  for  a  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit." 


SUNDAY   SERVICES. 


On  Sabbath  evening  a  congregation  that  filled  the 
house  to  overflowing  gathered  at  the  union  service  of 
the  First  Church  and  her  daughters.  Following  is 
the  order  of  service : 

Singing ;  by  the  Sabbath  School  and  Choir. 

Anthem. 

Scripture  Lessofi. 

XXVIIth  Psalm;  Rev.  R.  D.   Colmery. 

Singing ;  by  the  Sabbath  School  and  Choir. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN-    CHURCH    ERECTED    IN    COLUMBUS,  SPRING    STREET,  NEAR    THIRP. 


'■'■  Old  First  Church''  in  Cohiinbiis.  55 

Prayer ;  Rev.  Robert  J.  Laidlaiv. 

Singing ;  bv  the  Sabbath  School. 

Address:     ''The    Faith   of  the    Founders;'"    Rev. 
Wm.  E.  Moore,  D.  D. 

Address:  "-The  Bequest  of  the  Eightieth  Year  to 
the  One  Hundredth;''   Rev.  Nathan  S.  Smith,  D.  D. 

Singing ;  by  the  Sabbath  School. 

Address:  "-The  Obligatiofis  of  Our  Heritage;" 
Rev.  D.  R.   Colmery. 

Address:  ''A  Former  Pastor's  Greeting;"  Rev. 
Robert  J.  Laidlaiv. 

Singing;  by  the  Sabbath  School  and  Choir. 

Prayer ;  by  the  Pastor. 

Doxology. 

Benediction ;  Rev.  Dr.  Moore. 

A  large  chorus  from  the  Sunday  School  had  care- 
fully prepared  most  delightful  and  devotional  music, 
appropriate  to  the  occasion. 


THE    FAITH    OF   TH75    FOUNDERS. 


REV.  WM.   E.  MOORE,  D.   D. 


I  am  requested  to  speak  of   "The   Faith  of  the 
Founders."     The  topic  is  a  fruitful  one,  and  might 


66  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

lead  us   out  in   many  directions.     But  we  affirm  of 
them — 

I.  That  they  had  faith  in  God.  That  they  were  not 
unbelievers.  The  storm  of  French  infideUty  which 
swept  over  the  land  after  their  bloody  Revolution 
had  spent  its  force.  The  revivals  of  1800  and 
subsequent  jears  were  most  fruitful  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Virginia  and  Kentucky,  whence  most  of  the 
founders  came.  They  believed  in  God.  They  be- 
lieved in  the  Bible  as  His  Word,  the  only  infaUible 
rule  of  faith  and  practice.  They  believed  in  that 
Word  as  sufficient  to  guide  and  control  human  con- 
duct; to  correct  the  abuses  of  man's  Hberty;  to  build 
the  fabric  of  society  securely  by  freedom  under  law. 
They  did  not  believe  in  the  union  of  Church  and  State. 
But  they  did  not  believe  in  the  possibility  of  a  State, 
stable,  secure  and  free,  without  the  saving  influences 
which  are  excited  by  the  Church.  They  shewed  their 
faith  by  their  works.  They  put  the  Church  at  the 
foundation  of  the  commonwealth  which  they  came  to 
found.  They  built  the  House  of  God  humble  and 
plain,  side  by  side  with  the  cabins  in  which  they  shel- 
tered their  families  Many  of  them  were  men  who 
professed  their  faith  and  united  with  the  httle  church 
in  the  wilderness. 

II.  Of  the  various  forms  of  doctrine  which  pre- 
vailed then  as  they  prevail  now,  they  believed  in  that 


"(9/;/  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  57 

which  bears  the  common  name  of  Calvinism,  which 
was  taught  by  Paul  and  Augustine.  They  had 
learned  it  from  the  Westminster  confession  of 
faith,  and  from  its  catechisms.  Its  strong,  clear 
statements  commended  themselves  to  their  reason, 
their  conscience  and  their  experience.  They  believed 
in  the  eternal  purposes  of  God,  as  expressed  in  His  de- 
crees, and  as  consummated  through  the  free  agency 
of  men.  They  were  sure  that  what  God  purposes 
will  come  to  pass,  and  they  were  sure  that  his  pur- 
poses contemplate  the  ultimate  reign  of  peace  and 
righteousness  through  His  gospel  preached,  believed 
and  obeyed.  They  recognized  Christ  as  the  only  Lord 
of  the  conscience,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  as  the  only  and 
all  sufficient  interpreter  to  them  of  His  word.  With 
such  faith  in  the  Triune  God,  they  allowed  no  man 
— pope,  prelate,  priest  or  preacher — to  stand  between 
them  and  the  throne  of  infinite  wisdom,  grace  and 
love.  They  feared  God  with  holy  reverence,  and 
because  they  feared  him  they  feared  no  man. 

Such  faith  may  have  made  them  too  self-asserting, 
too  independent  for  the  times  of  partial  knowledge, 
and  imperfect  development  of  Christian  character. 
But  they  were  honest  and  sincere.  We  do  not  can- 
onize them,  but  we  gratefully  recognize  the  strong 
meat  of  their  doctrine  in  the  works  which  "do  fol- 
low them,"  now  that  they  "rest  from  their  labors." 


58  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

III.     Of  the  forms  of  church  government  under 
which  tlie  visible  church  exists,  "  the  faith   of   the 
founders  "  was  in  that  which  is  known  as  Presbyterian- 
ism.     Monarchy,  whether  of  Pope   or  Prelate,  they 
rejected  as  the  usurpation  of  the  prerogatives  of  the 
One  Lord  Jesus.     Democracy — the  rule  of  the  casual 
majority,  controlled  by  no  fundamental  law,  reviewed 
by  no  superior  and  impartial  judicatory — was,  to  their 
mind,  equally  subversive  of  the  authority  of  the  church's 
only  Head.     The  church  visible,  in  their  view — they 
drew  their  view  from  the  Bible — is,  as  to  its  polity,  a 
democratic  republic,  ruled,  under  its  Lord  and  Head, 
by  an  Eldership,  chosen  by  its  members  without  re- 
gard to  age  or  sex,  charged  with  the  administration  of 
the  ordinances  and  the  discipline  of  the  body,  subject 
to  the  review  and  control  of  Presbytery,  Synod  and 
General  Assembly,   themselves  bound  in  their  judg- 
ments by  the  Word  of  God  and  the  constitution  of 
the  church.     A  form  of  government,   simple,  scrip- 
tural and  most  wisely  adapted  to  secure  the  utmost 
possible  Hberty  of  the  individual  that  is  compatible 
with  subjection  to  law  and  order;  at  the  same  time 
most  efficient  in  combining  its  units,  whether  churches 
or  individuals,  in  one  powerful  and  efficient  host. 

Their  faith  showed  itself  by  their  works.  They 
drew  from  their  doctrine  and  their  pohty  practical 
inferences  which  are  reahzed  in  our  day  in  the  free 


''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  59 


commonwealth,  in  the  system  of  common  education, 
and  in  the  magnificent  charities  which  are  the  pride 
and  glory  of  the  State. 

"  Whose  faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their 
conversation,  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and 
to-day,  and  forever." 


THE    OBLIGATIONS    OF    OUK    HERITAGE. 
REV.   R.   D.   COLMERY,  PASTOR  HOGE  CHURCH. 


I  have  been  introduced  to  represent  the  youngest 
daughter  in  this  family  reunion.  And  I  wish  in  the 
very  outset  to  correct  a  misapprehension  that  may 
arise  in  the  minds  of  some,  growing  out  of  this  pecu- 
har  relation  which  we  sustain  to  the  household.  You 
all  know  it  is  a  very  common  thing  to  regard  the 
youngest  as  the  spoiled  child  in  the  family.  But  we 
would  fain  hope  that  there  is  no  spoiled  child  in  this 
household.  And  if  so,  it  is  alike  creditable  to  the 
mother  and  all  her  daughters.  Indeed,  we  feel  rather 
inclined  to  congratulate  ourselves  that  we  are  entitled 
to  the  distinction  of  the  favorite  child,  because 
of  the  tender  sympathies  that  cluster  around 
the  helplessness  of  youth,  for  we  are  yet  in  our 
teens,   and    because  we    bear    the    paternal   name. 


60  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

We  are  happy  in  the  assurance  that  we  have 
not  only  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  affection  of  our 
older  sisters,  but  also  the  tender  love  and  care  of  our 
common  mother.  We  have  reasons  for  hearty  con- 
gratulations among  ourselves  that  we,  the  children, 
assembled  in  family  reunion  under  the  maternal  roof 
to-night,  are  possessed  of  all  the  elements  essential 
to  constitute  a  prosperous  and  happy  family.  Truly, 
in  view  of  all  the  benefits  secured  to  us  by  our  godly 
progenitors,  who  laid  the  foundations  of  our  Zion  in 
the  wilderness,  we  can  take  up  the  refrain  which  was 
sung  long,  long  ago,  "  The  lines  are  fallen  unto  us  in 
pleasant  places;  yea,  we  have  a  goodly  heritage." 

It  is  a  well  recognized  principle  among  us,  based 
upon  the  Divine  Word,  that  where  distinguished 
favors  have  been  conferred,  or  a  rich  inheritance 
bequeathed,  there  are  corresponding  responsibili- 
ties and  obligations  imposed.  For  instance,  if 
some  one  should  present  me  witli  a  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  it  would  lay  on  me  a  weighty  responsi- 
bility as  the  beneficiary  and  custodian  of  such  a  fund. 
Whether  it  would  prove  a  blessing  or  a  curse  to  me 
would  depend  upon  whether  I  used  it  for  the  glory  of 
God,  or  for  my  own  personal  and  selfish  gratification. 
Children  are  held  responsible,  and  justly  so,  for  the 
proper  use  of  the  pecuniary  bequests  of  their  parents. 
And  so  we  are  accustomed  to  hold  the    children  of 


'''•Old  First  Church''  iti  Columbus.  61 

Christian  parents  to  a  stricter  accountability  than  the 
children  who  have  never  been  blessed  with  a  godly 
parentage.  And  the  same  rule  applies  to  nations, 
Christian  and  heathen.  Indeed,  the  rule  is  of  uni- 
versal application,  for  "  Unto  whomsoever  much  is 
given,  of  him  shall  be  much  required."  And,  "Freely 
ye  have  received,  freely  give."  Under  the  inspira- 
tion of  this  Divine  law  we  ought  to  estimate  the  obli- 
gations of  our  heritage.  And  what  a  heritage  it  is 
that  has  been  bequeathed  to  us !  The  institutions  of 
the  Gospel — the  church  for  which  the  Savior  died, 
and  the  channel  through  which  inestimable  blessings 
flow  down  to  us— the  church,  that  grandest  of  all 
institutions — which  God  has  organized  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world.  Such  a  bequest  from  our  pioneer 
ancestry  is  worth  more  to  us  than  millions  upon  mill- 
ions of  gold.  This  heritage  which  they  have  be- 
queathed lays  on  us  great  responsibilities.  In  their 
day  of  pioneer  life  they  could  only  do  the  work  of 
the  pioneer.  With  the  greatly  increased  facilities  at 
our  command  we  should  now  be  sowing  and  reaping 
abundant  harvests.  If  it  belonged  to  them  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  God's  Temple,  which  they  did  in  faith 
and  prayers  and  tears,  it  now  devolves  on  us  to  build 
a  grand  and  beautiful  superstructure.  If  they  intro- 
duced the  leaven  of  Christianity,  we  must  diffuse  it. 
We    must    lengthen    the    cords   and   strengthen   the 


62  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

stakes  of  our  Zion,  so  as  to  keep  pace  with  the 
growth  of  our  city.  This  should  be  our  special  home 
mission  work.  But,  more  than  this,  our  vision  must 
reach  to  the  circumference  of  our  own  country,  and 
away  beyond  the  seas ;  and  wherever  we  see  a  brother 
who  has  never  heard  of  the  glad  tidings  that  have 
been  handed  down  to  us,  to  him  we  must  stretch  out 
the  hand  of  beneficence,  and  send  him  the  message 
of  mercy.  And  thus,  from  this  city  as  a  Christian 
centre,  must  go  forth,  to  the  very  extremities  of  the 
earth,  an  influence  that  will  bless  and  save  oar 
fellow-men.  Here  is  a  work  in  which  pastors  and 
elders  and  members  should  all  unite. 

Let  us,  my  friends,  not  prove  ourselves  unworthy 
of  the  invaluable  bequest  of  our  forefathers  by  our 
failure  to  recognize  the  obligations  of  our  heritage. 
But,  trusting  in  the  God  of  our  fathers  to  help  us  in 
rearing  the  superstructure,  as  He  helped  them  in 
laying  the  foundation,  let  us  unitedly  prosecute  our 
work  with  untiring  diligence,  till  we  are  called  to  lay 
down  our  work  and  take  uu  the  crown. 


'■^Old  First  C/iurch"  in  Columbns.  63 


A  FORMER  PASTORS  GREETING. 


BY     REV.    ROBERT    J.    LAIDLAW. 


As  I  have  been  kindly  introduced  as  a  former 
pastor  of  the  church,  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  a 
friend,  and  speak  freely  and  without  premeditation 
I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  this  church, 
and  in  the  best  welfare  of  the  city  that  has  grown  up 
around  it.  Nearly  fifteen  years  ago  I  came  to  make 
this  city  my  home.  On  the  22d  of  September,  1871, 
I  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  ministry  by  the 
lajing  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery  of  Columbus 
in  this  sacred  place — a  place  that  will  always  be  pe- 
culiarly dear  to  me.  Just  fourteen  years  ago  to-day 
it  was  my  happiness  to  lead  my  wife  into  this  church, 
a  young  bride.  We  began  our  home  hfe  among  you, 
and  during  the  four  years  of  our  stay  formed  attach- 
ments so  strong  that  our  hearts  still  turn  toward 
Columbus,  Ohio,  more  fondly  than  toward  any  other 
place. 

If  I  now  speak  in  a  paternal  sort  of  way,  and  say 
any  word  that  may  seem  like  a  word  of  needless  ad- 
monition, you  will  kindly  charge  it  to  the  account  of 
the  pastoral  feehng  I  still  cherish  toward  you.     Fob 


64  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

lowing  in  the  line  of  the  remarks  just  made  by  Dr. 
Smith,  and  knowing  the  earnest  desire  that  is  in  the 
heart  of  every  one  of  the  Presbyterian  pastors  of  the 
city,  I  would  propose  the  question :  Has  the  growth 
of  Presbyterianism  in  Columbus  during  the  past  ten 
or  fifteen  years  kept  pace  with  the  rapid  growth  of 
this  flourishing  city?  Some  twelve  or  thirteen  years 
ago  there  were  four  Presbyterian  churches  here,  with 
an  aggregate  membership  of  somewhat  less  than  one 
thousand  communicants.  The  whole  population  of 
the  city  was  then  not  more  than  forty  thousand. 
Now  the  city's  population  has  grown  to  seventy  or 
seventy-five  thousand,  and  there  are  still  the  same 
four  churches,  with  two  missions  recently  begun,  and 
with  a  total  membership  of  a  little  more  than  one 
thousand.  The  pastors  of  these  churches  hope  to 
see  Presbyterianism  making  more  rapid  strides  in  the 
immediate  future,  and  are  extending  their  plans  and 
church  operations  so  as  to  have  their  hopes  realized. 
But  they  cannot  accomplish  this  work  alone.  The  re- 
sult will  depend  upon  the  co-operation  of  the  people 
of  their  respective  charges.  Let  me  provoke  you  to 
good  works  by  speaking  a  little  of  my  own  city.  For 
the  past  eight  years  I  have  been  the  pastor  of  St. 
Paul's  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  city  of  Hamilton, 
Canada,  a  city  which  during  these  years  has  grown 
only   from    thirty-one    thousand    to     forty    thousand 


'■'^  Old  First  Church'"  in  Columbus.  65 

inhabitants.  During  these  eight  years  two  new  Pres- 
byterian churches  have  been  organized,  and  the 
membership  of  one  of  the  others  has  more  than  dou- 
bled. In  that  city  of  only  forty  thousand  inhabitants 
there  are  seven  Presbyterian  churclies,  with  an  aggre- 
gate membership  of  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
(2,800)  communicants.  There  are,  besides,  eight 
Methodist  churches,  several  of  which  are  large  ;  seven 
Episcopal  churches,  of  like  size  and  strength  ;  one  or 
two  Baptist  churches,  with  two  or  three  missions; 
a  Congregational  church,  with  one  mission ;  two  large 
Roman  Catholic  churches  ;  a  Jewish  synagogue — and, 
in  short,  all  the  religious  denominations  are  fully 
represented.  If  you  ask  me  how  it  is  that  there  are 
so  many  flourishing  churches  in  that  city,  I  need  only 
say  it  is  because  there  are  many.  Religion  is  conta- 
gious. Churches  are  mutually  helpful.  Like  trees  in 
the  forest,  they  draw  each  other  heavenward.  Plant 
one  church  in  a  city,  and  it  will  not  have  influence 
enough  to  advertise  itself  and  its  work  so  as  to  com- 
mand the  support  of  the  community.  Plant  another, 
and  church  life  and  work  will  be  more  spoken  of,  and, 
therefore,  better  advertised,  to  say  nothing  of  more 
important  spiritual  results.  But  still  there  may  be 
need  for  another,  and  another,  and  another,  up  to  the 
limit  that  is  reached  when  the  whole  population  has 
been  overtaken.     Six   Presbyterian  churches  in  this 


66  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

city  should  flourish  better  than  four,  and  perhaps 
eight  better  than  six.  There  are  beautiful  new  streets 
and  avenues,  with  no  Presbyterian  church  or  Sunday 
school  within  easy  reach.  Already  you  have  recog- 
nized the  fact  that  this  state  of  things  must  be  rem- 
edied. ■  I  have  said  that  this  edifice  is  very  sacred  to 
me.  Yet  if  it  were  necessary  that  this  dear  old  church 
should  be  removed,  to  be  within  more  convenient 
reach  of  the  new  homes  of  the  great  majority  of  its 
members,  while  I  could  not  but  regret  to  see  it  pass 
away,  who  would  allow  any  sentiment  of  attachment 
to  either  the  building  or  its  site  to  stand  in  the  w\ay  of 
the  advancement  of  Christ's  Kingdom  !  But  it  may, 
perhaps,  not  be  necessary  to  have  this  church  re- 
moved. Let  the  congregation  divide,  amicably  and 
on  equitable  terms,  so  that  those  going  out  would 
take  with  them  the  blessing  of  the  mother  church, 
and  while  the  new  organization  would  soon  grow 
strong,  sacred  associations  would  help  to  gather  new 
members  to  the  old  church  to  take  the  places  of  those 
who  had  gone.  This  we  have  seen  take  place  elsewhere, 
and  why  not  here  ?  But  I  have  confidence  in  your 
wisdom  and  zeal,  and  know  that  this  question  will 
receive  the  attention  it  demands,  and  will  be  answered 
in  the  way  that  will  best  serve  the  interests  of  Presby- 
terianism,  and  of  rehgion  in  general  in  this  large  and 
prosperous  city.     Should   we   be  permitted  to  meet 


"  Old  First  Church  "  in  Columbus.  67 

again  in  coming  years,  I  trust  it  may  be  to  look  back 
with  devout  gratitude  to  this  memorial  day,  bearing 
our  testimony  that  it  was  the  day  on  which  a  fresh 
impulse  was  given  to  the  progress  of  the  Presbyterian 
cause  in  this  city,  resulting  in  the  planting  of  new 
churches,  or  of  old  churches  in  new  fields,  where 
their  growth  will  be  vastly  greater  and  more  gratifying 
than  could  be  possible  under  the  continuance  of  pres- 
ent circumstances. 

I  have  made  these  remarks  unsolicited  by  any  of 
my  brethren,  and  without  their  knowledge  of  my  in- 
tention to  speak  as  I  have  spoken,  for  I  have  spoken 
without  premeditation,  using  the  liberty  of  a  friend  in 
remembrance  of  your  kindness  tome  in  the  first  years 
of  my  ministry,  and  the  kindness  of  your  pastor  in 
urging  me  to  come  to  rejoice  with  you  on  this  inter- 
estinsr  memorial  occasion. 


68  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 


MONDAY  SERVICES. 


Again  Monday  evening  a  goodly  congregation  joined 
in  the  commemoration  services  of  the  occasion. 

The  pastor  spoke  of  the  lessons  of  the  hour,  and 
the  many  reasons  for  thanksgiving  and  gratitude  this 
congregation  had;  and  especially  that  eighty  years 
ago  the  Lord  had  His  servant,  James  Hoge,  to  organ- 
ize a  church  in  the  wilderness,  and  plant  the  vine 
which  had  borne  in  the  past,  and  was  continuing  to 
bear,  such  abundant  fruit. 

The  following  hymn,  used  in  the  service  thirty  years 
ago  by  the  congregation  which  assembled  to  celebrate 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the 
church,  was  read  by  the  pastor,  and  sung : 

[From  bternhold   &   Hopkins'  Collection   (1609).     Tune: 
"  Coionation.''j 

Attend  je  people,  heare  and  learne, 

E'en  of  our  fathers  old. 
And  which  for  our  instruction 

Our  fathers  have  us  told, 

That  thev  and  their  posteritie 

That  were  not  sprunc^  up  tho' 
Should  have  the  knowledge  of  the  lawe, 

And  teach  their  seede  also — 


"(9A/  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  69 

That  they  may  have  the  better  hope 

In  God  that  is  above, 
And  not  forget  to  keep  His  lawes, 

And  His  precepts  in  love. 

Friends  and  pastors  of  neighboring  churches  were 
present  with  their  greetings.  Rev.  Drs.  Trimble, 
Gladden,  Mullenix,  Craft,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Aylesworth 
and  Laidlaw,  took  part  in  the  service. 

After  prayer,  and  singing  the  hymn, 

"  Oh,  God  of  Bethel,  by  whose  hand 
Thy  people  still  are  led, 
Who  through  this  weary  pilgrimage 
Our  fathers  all  were  led," 

Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trimble,  D.  D.,  the  Nestor  of 
Methodism  among  us,  was  introduced,  and  responded 
in  these  words : 

Afy  Dear  Friends  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  : 
I  am  glad  to  be  with  you  to-night  to  share  with 
you  the  pleasure  of  your  eightieth  anniversary  greet- 
ings. I  have  known  something  of  your  history, 
especially  of  the  ministers  who  have  served  you  in 
the  Lord.  It  was  my  privilege  to  know  the  venera- 
ble Dr.  James  Hoge,  the  founder  of  the  church,  who 
served  it  so  long  and  so  well.  I  heard  my  Grandma 
Trimble  speak  of  entertaining  him  in  her  log  cabin 
before  I  was  born.  I  met  him  first  in  Hillsborough, 
on  a  visit  to  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Hoge, 


70  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  village. 
I  met  him  afterward  when  a  student  in  the  Ohio 
University.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  University  from 
1823  to  1852. 

I  was  stationed  in  Columbus  for  two  years,  from 
September,  1840,  to  1842,  where  I  was  privileged  to 
renew  my  acquaintance  with  the  venerable  Dr. 
Hoge,  and  share  his  friendship  and  fellowship.  I 
returned  to  this  city  in  September,  1860,  and  had 
the  opportunity  of  renewing  our  adquaintanceship. 
He  was  a  man  I  highly  prized  for  his  many  virtues, 
his  useful  life  and  his  moral  influence  upon  society. 
The  extent  of  his  usefulness  will  not  be  known  in 
this  world.  The  future  world  will  alone  reveal  it. 
I  was  privileged  to  attend  the  services  held  in  this 
church,  where  his  many  friends  and  admirers  were 
gathered  to  pay  their  last  loving  tribute  to  his  worth, 
and  to  participate  in  the  services.  I  have  known  all 
the  minister  save  one  (Rev.  Hall),  that  have  served 
you  as  pastors,  and  have  been  privileged  on  several 
occasions  to  fill  your  pulpit.  Why  may  I  not  join 
you  in  the  services  of  this  interesting  occasion, 
bringing  to  you  the  fraternal  greetings  of  the  church 
of  my  fellowship  ? 

May  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  grant  you  so 
abundantly  of  His  grace  that  your  future  prosperity 
may  be  even  more  abundant  than  your  past. 


^'^ Old  First  Church'^  in  Columbus.  71 

Dr.  Gladden  brought  the  greetings  of  the  Congre- 
gational brethren. 

Rev.  N.  A.  Craft,  D.  D.,  spoke  for  Wesley  Chapel 
in  an  eloquent  and  friendly  speech. 

The  pastor  contrasted  the  Ohio  of  1806  and  the 
Ohio  of  1886  in  the  elements  of  civilization,  the 
energy  of  modern  thought,  the  progress  of  ideas,  the 
wealth  of  invention.  He  gave  reminiscences  gleaned 
from  Mrs.  Isabella  Hunter,  the  oldest  living  member 
of  the  church,  and  read  the  following  letters  and 
telegrams : 

The  University  of  Wooster.         ) 
WoosTER,  O.,  Feb.  4,  1886.  j 

To  the  Rev.  Francis  E.  Marsten  : 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother:  Thank  God  that  it  was 
not  written  of  the  church:  "And  if  by  reason  of 
strength  they  be  fourscore  years.,  yet  is  their  strength 
labor  and  sorrow,  for  it  is  soon  cut  off  and  we  fly 
away;"  but  rather:  "  Thy  days  shall  be  /w/^  in  the 
land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,"  and  "  thy 
sun  shall  fiever  go  down !"  Thank  God  that  the 
church  by  which  the  generations  live  in  Christ,  lives 
after  them  and  for  the  "  generations  yet  to  come,"  to 
show  unto  them  as  they  come,  "  the  praises  of  the 
Lord,  and  His  strength  and  His  wonderful  works 
that  he  hath  done."     Psalm  Ixxviii. 

Allow   me    to   congratulate    the    church   not  only 


72  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

upon  the  fulfillment  of  God's  promises,  but  upon  its 
own  fulfillment  of  their  conditions.  Among  these 
varied  activities  it  is  fitting  that  I  should  signalize  the 
effective  interest  now  being  taken  by  the  church  in 
the  completion  of  a  memorial  to  its  own  venerable 
founder,  in  connection  with  an  institution  of  which 
he  may  be  called  the  father.  I  return  to  the 
assembled  congregation  the  hearty  acknowledgments 
of  those  specially  charged  with  the  duty  of  pressing 
that  enterprise  to  a  successful  conclusion,  and  ven- 
ture to  ask  that  somewhere  among  the  sentiments 
which  refer  to  the  church  he  loved,  and  as  indicat- 
ing its  pride  in  his  wisdom  and  foresight,  one  may  be 
proposed  signalizing  his  influence  in  planting  the 
Synpdical  University  he  so  faithfully  cherished. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Sylvester  F.  Scovel. 


Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.  8, 1886. 

Rev.  Francis  E.  Marsten  : 

My  heart    is   with  you  in  this  service.     I   wish  I 

could  be  with  you  in  person. 

Moses  D.  Hoge. 


110  East  Nineteenth  St.,         'J 
New  York,  Feb.  5,  1886.  J 

My  Dear  Bro.  Marsten  :     I  should  like  to  be 


'■'•Old  First  Church'"  in  Columbus.  73 

with  you  on  Monday  next  and  Tuesday,  to  join  in 
your  commemoration.  May  God  abundantly  bless 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Columbus,  and 
you,  its  pastor. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Howard  Ckosby. 


First  Cong.  Ch.  Parsonage,  \ 

NoRWALK,  Conn,  Feb.  5,  1886.]" 

My  Dear  Marsten  :  I  am  just  in  receipt  of 
your  spiritually  appetizing  menu  for  the  8th  inst.  at 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  would  be  glad  to 
share  in  the  feast  of  such  fat  things  as  I  know  you 
and  your  people  will  prepare.  I  am  glad  that  "if  by 
reason  of  strength  you  are  fourscore  years,  your 
strength  is  not  labor  and  sorrow,"  but  that  peace  and 
prosperity  attends  the  rejuvenation  which  you  so 
richly  have  secured  to  the  church. 

I  do  not  forget  that  I  had  a  voice  in  the  advent  of 
the  successful  pastor,  nor  the  many  courtesies  so  ever 
received  by  me  at  your  church ;  so  I  do  not  cease  to 
plead  for  you  and  your  church  the  crowning  blessing 
of  our  Lord  in  the  great  benediction. 

Though  I  am  speaking  from  a  congregational  par- 
sonage, yet  I  find  that  my  heart  reaches  out  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  I  served,  with  such  hap- 
piness to  myself,  with  a  warm  and  loyal  affection,  and 


74  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

no  less  because  it  numbers  in  its  ministry  so  valued  a 
friend  and  brother,  my  love  for  whom  is  so  shared  by 
the  venerable  church  that  now  celebrates  its  eighth 
decade. 

Hoping  to  see  you  again  during  this  coming  sum- 
mer, and  with  hearty  love  to  the  family,  as  ever,  your 

sincere  friend, 

Edward  Anderson. 


Congregational  House, 

1  Somerset  St., 
Boston,  Feb.  5, 1886. 

Rev.  Francis  E.  Marsten,  Columbus,  Ohio  : 

Dear  Brother  :  I  have  this  morning  received  a 
programme  of  the  exercises  connected  with  the  eight- 
ieth anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Columbus,  Ohio.  It  would  give  me 
very  great  pleasure  to  attend  that  anniversary,  in  view 
of  my  interest  in  the  pastor  and  his  family.  The  exer- 
cises themselves  will  not  be  lacking  in  interest.  But 
it  is  rather  a  long  journey  for  one  to  take  at  this  sea- 
son of  the  year,  and  this  difficulty  of  locomotion,  this 
confinement  of  our  spirits  in  temples  of  clay  that  are 
not  easily  transferred  from  one  point  to  another, 
stands  in  the  way  of  many  of  our  greatest  enjoyments. 
Bye  and  bye  we  shall  not  be  so  hindered,  and  may 
have  ample  time  and  opportunity  to  consider  at  length 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  hi  Columbus.  75 

all  such  occasions  and  the  great  interests  connected 
with  them. 

Grateful  for  your  kindly  remembrance,  and  with 
best  wishes  for  the  happiness  of  yourself  and  house- 
hold, and  ever  growing  influences  and  power  in  your 

church. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

N.  G.  Clark. 


REmiNISCENCSS  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH. 


BV  MRS.   REBECCA  L.   AWL. 


My  father,  John  Loughry,  came  to  Ohio  in  1816, 
with  a  view  of  locating  in  its  capital.  Finding  a  Pres- 
byterian Church  organized  in  Franklinton,  with  a 
pleasing  young  pastor,  Mr.  James  Hoge,  he  concluded 
to  make  Columbus  his  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1817,  he  brought  out  his  family  from 
Indiana,  Pa.  I  was  then  eight  years  of  age.  Our 
residence  was  on  High  street,  between  Friend  and 
Mound  streets.  I  remember,  the  following  spring,  I 
walked  to  Frankhnton,  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
half,  to  attend  "meeting"  in  a  brick  house  built  by 
Mr.  Lucas  SuUivant. 

Our  first  church  building  on  this  side  of  the  river 
was  erected  in  1818,  on  Front  street.     The  entire 


76  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

structure,  support  and  furniture,  were  of  walnut,  the 
only  timber  to  be  obtained  then  in  these  parts. 
Father  superintended  the  construction,  and  was  one 
of  the  ten  men  who  subscribed  one  hundred  dollars 
each  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  a  big  sum  for  that 
period.  Soon  after  its  completion,  my  school  teacher. 
Miss  Reed,  a  New  England  lady,  who  taught  us  in  an 
upper  room  of  a  relative's  dwelling,  on  Friend  street, 
suggested  there  should  be  a  Sunday  school  connected 
with  the  church.  She  consulted  with  several  ladies, 
my  mother  one  of  the  number,  and  obtaining  their 
hearty  co-operation,  she  advised  them  to  solicit  dona- 
tions from  the  merchants  and  young  men  in  business. 
Here  we  note  the  antiquity  of  the  utnveicotue  mode  of 
raising  funds  for  the  church  and  charitable  objects, 
which  everyone  avoids.  Money  being  scarce,  a  book- 
seller, Mr.  Kilbourne,  offered  red-covered  pocket  Bibles 
in  exchange  for  colored  maps  that  were  in  demand 
in  the  State.  Several  of  my  companions  and  myself 
painted  enough  to  become  possessors  of  the  whole 
Bible,  the  Sunday  school  affording  only  Testaments, 
and  Bibles  were  considered  great  prizes.  Small  tracts 
were  given  us  for  learning  verses  for  each  Sunday. 
Mrs.  Andrew  Backus,  mother  of  Mrs.  McElvaine,  of 
this  church,  was  my  first  Sunday  school  teacher,  and, 
as  long  as  she  lived  was  a  faithful  friend  who  never 
forgot  her  pupils. 


SECOND    CHURCH    ERECTED    IN    COLUMBUS,    "OLD    TRINITY    IX    UNITY. 


'■'■  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  11 

I  recall  an  event  that  caused  great  excitement  in 
our  little  community  about  1819  or  1820  A  young 
man  named  Amos  Rathbone  was  drowned  in  the 
Scioto  river.  His  relatives  were  Methodists,  and  they 
had  but  a  small  house  of  worship.  Our  church — 
"  three  in  one,"  as  it  was  called,  on  account  of  the 
spacious  audience  room,  under  three  pointed  roofs — 
offered  their  building  to  them  for  the  funeral  services. 
The  house  and  surrounding  grounds  were  crowded 
with  sympathizing  friends  and  curious  strangers. 

I  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1829,  in 
Danville,  Ky.,  while  attending  Dr.  Birch's  Female 
Seminary.  Elizabeth  Hoge,  afterwards  Mrs.  Dr.  Noll, 
of  Mobile,  Ala.,  united  at  the  same  time.  Shortly 
after  this  I  was  married,  and  went  to  Somerset,  Ohio. 
Remained  there  till  1833,  when  Dr.  Awl  concluded 
to  move  to  Columbus.  We  brought  our  "letters"  to 
the  church  of  my  girlhood.  It  had  changed  its  loca- 
tion to  the  present  site,  and  was  increased  in  propor- 
tions and  in  membership.  The  walnut  benches  and 
pillars  of  the  Front  street  building  were  transferred  to 
the  basement  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  school,  and 
subsequently  two  of  the  posts  were  given  to  my  hus- 
band, who  used  them  to  support  a  grape  arbor,  and 
they  stand  in  that  place  yet,  and  bid  fair  to  celebrate 
their  cente?mial  of  durability. 

Except  one  year's  sojourn  in  Dayton,  my  connec- 


78  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

tion  has  been  with  this  dear  old  church  since  1833, 
and  I  rejoice  to  celebrate  this  eightieth  anniversary 
with  young  and  old,  surprised  to  find  I  am  the  only 
surviving  member  of  the  congregation  of  1817,  and 
thank  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  has  blessed  me  in 
seeing  its  growth,  prosperity  and  usefulness,  and  trust 
He  will  bless  us  and  future  generations  as  in  years 
past,  and  many  through  it  may  find  the  way  to  ever- 
lasting peace  and  joy. 

Rebecca  L.  Awl. 
February  8,  1886. 


HISTORY  OF   THE    SUNDAY    SCHOOL. 


BY   MISS    KATIE  GARDNER. 


It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  records  of  the 
Sabbath  school  of  this  church  have  not  been  pre- 
served. 

For  this  reason  we  can  not  vouch  for  the  perfect 
correctness  of  dates  and  statistics.  In  the  absence  of 
these,  we  have  been  obhged  to  depend  upon  the  mem- 
ory of  a  few  of  the  elder  members  of  the  church. 

About  as  early  as  the  year  1810,  Dr.  Hoge  gathered 
and  taught  the  children  of  the  vicinity  in  his  own 
house,  getting  such  assistance  as  he  could.  But  with 
this  effort  his  brethren  found  fault,  because  he  per- 


'■'^ Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  79 

sisted  in  devoting  a  part  of  the  time  to  teaching  them 
to  read  and  spell.  There  being  no  public  schools  at 
that  time,  and  very  few  educational  opportunities  for 
the  poor,  the  young  pastor  very  wisely  proposed  to 
use  a  portion  of  the  time  to  so  doing.  This  his  breth- 
ren thought  too  secular  for  the  Lord's  day,  and  his 
efforts  were  finally  abandoned. 

About  the  year  1818,  the  regular  church  school, 
which  still  exists,  was  formally  organized,  with  a  care- 
fully prepared  constitution  and  by-laws,  similar  to  the 
one  still  in  use  by  the  school.  Its  founder  was  a 
woman,  Miss  Sarah  Reed,  tlie  teacher  of  the  select 
day  school  of  the  then  small  town.  It  is  very  evident, 
from  subsequent  results,  that  the  mantle  of  this  hum- 
ble servant  of  the  Lord  fell  upon  her  sisters  in  the 
church,  for  it  is  a  significant  fact  that  in  all  succeed- 
ing years  this  school  has  been  faithfully  served  and 
nourished  by  earnest  Christian  women,  and  we  think 
the  record  from  that  day  to  the  present  will  show  a 
predominance  of  them  as  workers  there  over  those  of 
their  brethren. 

A  complete  list  of  the  Superintendents  who  were 
the  successors  of  Miss  Reed  has  not  been  kept,  but 
we  are  able  to  recall  the  honored  names  of  Mr.  Henry 
Jewett,  Mr.  Peter  Campbell,  Mr.  Ralph  Osborne,  Miss 
Richardson,  Rev.  Mr.  McCutcheon,  Mr.  Isaac  Dalton, 
Mr.  Moses  Hoge,   Mr.  Abial  Foster,  Mr.  Horace  F. 


80  Eight  Decpves  in  the  Lift  of  eth 

Huntington,  Mr.  William  Blynn,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Hoodie.     Of  these,  none  are  working  with  us  now. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Alfred  Thomas  was  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Moodie,  and  continued  to  fill  the  i)lace  with  great 
acceptance  to  the  school  for  eighteen  consecutive 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  gave  up  the  posi- 
tion for  that  of  teacher  of  a  young  men's  Bible  class, 
at  which  post  he  is  still  enabled  to  labor. 

In  1874,  Mr.  C.  A.  Bowe,  who  was  then  Assistant 
Superintendent,  succeeded  Mr.  Thomas,  and  held  the 
office  one  year.  He  was  not  only  faithful  in  his  duties 
as  Superintendent,  and  successful  for  one  young  and 
inexperienced,  but  added  greatly  to  the  prosperity  and 
enjoyment  of  the  school  by  training  the  voices  of  the 
children  in  hymns  of  praise,  and  by  personal  visits 
to  the  sick  and  the  poor,  and  kindly  sympathy  with 
the  little  ones. 

Mr.  Henry  C.  Noble  followed  Mr.  Bowe,  in  1875, 
and  continued  to  fill  the  place  with  great  favor  until 
October  last,  when  he  yielded  to  an  urgent  request  to 
take  charge  of  a  Bible  class,  after  a  faithful  service 
of  ten  years. 

Upon  his  resignation,  the  school  unanimously  elected 
Col.  Peabody,  who,  although  a  comparative  stranger 
among  us,  is  not  a  stranger  to  the  interests  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  and  has  entered  heartily  into  the  work 
here. 


ELDER    ALFRED    THOMAS. 


'  Old  First  Church "  in  Columbus.  81 


The  school  was  first  held  in  a  frame  house  on  the 
bank  of  the  Scioto  river,  near  the  corner  of  Town  and 
Front  streets.  Of  those  in  the  school  at  that  time 
we  find  only  the  names  of  two  scholars — Rebecca 
Loughery,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Awl,  still  a  serviceable  and 
beloved  member  of  the  church,  ever  active  and  use- 
ful, and  bearing  fruit  in  old  age,  and  Isabelle  Dalzell, 
now  Mrs.  Joseph  Hunter,  who,  though  once  an  active 
Christian  worker,  has  been  called  aside  to  the  quiet  of 
a  sick  chamber,  where  she  has  still  glorified  her  Master 
by  patient  endurance  and  submissive  waiting. 

When  our  present  church  edifice  was  built,  in  1830, 
the  basement  of  the  same,  then  about  six  feet  below 
the  street,  was  finished  for  the  occupancy  of  the  Sa,b- 
bath  school,  and,  in  contrast  with  former  accommoda- 
tions, this  new  room  was  considered  an  excellent  ex- 
change, although  some  present  here  to-night  can  well 
remember  the  brick  floor  and  the  little  narrow  win- 
dows, which  admitted  only  a  dim  light  upon  the  sun- 
niest day.  The  doors  were  painted  a  dark  red,  and 
the  seats,  which  were  like  huge  boxes,  being  of  black 
walnut,  gave  the  room  a  most  gloomy  appearance. 
Those  rude  benches,  which  were  in  striking  contrast 
with  the  tasteful  little  settees  of  to-day,  were  the  pews 
*of  the  former  church,  and  though  only  suitable  for 
grown-up  people,  were  removed  to  the  new  room  for  the 
use  of  the  children.     They  were  about  eight  feet  long. 


82  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

with  straight  backs  so  high  that  the  young  heads  could 
not  be  seen  above  them,  and  upon  each  seat  was 
nailed  a  square  piece  of  black  tin,  bearing  in  bright 
yellow  figures  the  number  of  the  class.  At  one  end 
of  the  room  were  placed  two  large,  close,  sheet-iron 
stoves,  which  served  the  double  purpose  of  warming 
the  basement  and  the  church  above.  A  small  cup- 
board, capable  of  holding  two  or  three  hundred  vol- 
umes, contained  the  limited  hbrary,  which  consisted, 
not  of  pretty  stories,  with  their  attractive  titles  and 
bright  bindings,  but  generally  of  exaggerated  memoirs 
of  pious  children,  who  came  to  an  early  grave,  or  the 
hves  of  reformers  and  martyrs,  and  books  of  like  char- 
acter, the  reading  of  which  could  never  interest  or 
profit  a  child.  These  books  were  invariably  bound  in 
dark  blue,  black  or  marbled  paper  bindings,  the 
sombre  effect  of  which  was  in  perfect  keeping  with 
the  gloomy  furniture  of  the  room. 

Next  to  the  great  improvement  in  Sunday  school 
books  stands  the  marked  advance  in  Sunday  school 
music.  Although  it  was  always  the  custom  to  open 
the  school  with  singing,  the  sweet  voices  of  the  chil- 
dren Avere  seldom  heard,  as  both  the  time  and  words 
were  far  beyond  their  comprehension.  Such  a  thing 
as  a  musical  instrument  never  made  its  appearance 
in  our  school  until  the  year  1859,  and  as  our  aspira- 
tions were  not  extravagant  in  those  days,  we  were 


"  Old  First  Church "  in  Columbns.  83 

content  with  a  very  ordinary  melodeon,  and  second- 
hand at  that. 

We  may  well  date  the  improvement  of  both  the 
music  and  choice  of  singing-books  to  the  entrance 
that  year  of  Mr.  R.  D.  Dunbar  into  the  school.  The 
little  blue-covered  books,  about  four  inches  long  and 
one  inch  thick,  without  notes,  were  then  exchanged 
for  the  sweet,  soul-inspiring  hymns  of  the  "Oriole,"  a 
collection  of  gems  in  our  use  for  years,  and  never 
surpassed  by  any  of  its  successors.  With  Mr.  Dun- 
bar's patience,  and  perseverance,  and  kindly  manners, 
he  soon  practically  answered  the  question,  "  Who 
shall  sing  if  not  the  children — did  not  Jesus  die  for 
them  ?"  Since  his  departure  to  join  the  choir  above, 
the  school  has  never  lacked  kind  friends,  who  have 
patiently  taught  the  cliildren  to  sing,  and  have  added 
much  to  their  enjoyment  and  profit  in  the  duty  of 
praise. 

From  time  to  time,  various  methods  have  been 
adopted  to  increase  the  interest  and  attendance  of 
the  school.  In  1830,  a  committee  of  ladies  not  con- 
nected with  the  school  gave  themselves  to  the  work 
of  gathering  in  and  looking  after  the  wants  of  new 
scholars.  In  1859,  Rev.  Edgar  Woods,  the  pastor  of 
the  church,  proposed  a  similar  effort,  which  resulted 
in  great  good  and  large  increase  of  numbers.  At  an- 
other time,  Mr.  Woods  offered  prizes  to  be  given  to 


84  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

the  scholars  who  should  bring  in  the  largest  number 
in  a  prescribed  time.  These  were  a  very  handsome 
copy  of  the  Bible,  costing  $25,  and  an  elegant  copy  of 
the  "Pilgrim's  Progress,"  costing  $10.  This  unpre- 
cedented offer  stimulated  the  school  to  great  exer- 
tion, and  our  pastor  was  rewarded  for  his  generosity 
in  seeing  large  additions  to  the  school  as  a  result. 

This  school  has  always  been  very  liberal  in  its 
contributions.  For  many  years  it  assumed  the  entire 
support  of  children  in  heathen  lands,  some  of  whom 
bore  the  honored  names  of  James  Hoge,  Horace 
Huntington,  Alfred  Thomas,  and  Catharine  Robin- 
son. 

Each  pastor,  from  the  time  of  Dr.  Hoge  to  the 
present  time,  has  set  apart  a  special  service  for  the 
children.  Dr.  Hoge  would  sometimes  call  them 
together  to  examine  them  in  regard  to  their  knowl- 
edge of  the  shorter  catechism,  and  it  was  the  custom 
of  Rev.  J.  D.  Smith,  in  1850,  to  visit  the  Sunday 
school  once  a  month,  and  converse  with  each  class 
upon  the  subject  of  personal  religion.  Mr.  Woods, 
Mr.  Roberts,  and  Mr.  Marshall,  held  a  monthly  con- 
cert, while  Mr.  Laidlaw  and  Mr.  Heberton  pursued 
a  similar  plan  quarterly. 

Among  those  who  were  connected  with  the  school 
in  its  early  days,  but  very  few  remain.  Some  are 
still  at  work  in  other  fields,  whilst  others,  too  infirm 


'■^ Old  First  Church'"  in  Columbus.  85 

to  be  actively  engaged,  are  helping  with  their  prayers, 
and  a  still  greater  number  rest  from  their  labors, 
and  "  their  works  do  follow  them."  Around  each 
endeared  name  clusters  a  sweet  savor  of  Christian 
remembrance,  and  "they  being  dead,  yet  speak." 

While  we  may  not  despise  the  day  of  small  things, 
we  are  justly  proud  of  our  convenient  and  comfort- 
able chapel,  built  in  1873,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  To 
no  one  is  more  credit  due  for  our  present  pleasant 
surroundings  than  to  the  late  Mrs.  Peter  Campbell, 
whose  unceasing  efforts  did  more  to  secure  us  our 
present  Sabbath  home  than  those  of  any  other  mem- 
ber of  the  church. 

In  this  retrospect,  no  thought  furnishes  such  true 
satisfaction  as  the  fact  that  this  school,  from  its  very 
foundation,  has  been  richly  blessed  in  spiritual  things, 
and  the  church  of  Christ,  both  here  and  elsewhere, 
has  received  into  her  membership  some  of  her  most 
consistent  workers  from  this  humble  nursery,  and  in 
the  Sanctuary  above,  many  a  redeemed  one  is  sing- 
ing the  praises  of  Him  whose  name  they  first  learned 
to  lisp  in  this  school. 

Looking  upon  the  past,  we  are  led  to  exclaim, 
"What  hath  God  wrought!"  Looking  at  the  present, 
let  us  raise  a  grateful  Ebenezer.  Looking  at  the 
future,  let  us  place  as  a  motto  over  our  dear  school 
tonight,  "Except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they 
labor  in  vain  that  build  it." 


86  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 


EXERCISES  ON  TUESDAY. 

The  social  event  of  the  occasion  occurred  in  accord- 
ance with  the  following  invitation : 

Tuesday,  February  9. 

Reunion  of  Members,   Past  and  Present,  at  6.-30 
p.  m.  in  the  Chapel. 

Collation. 

Singing  Fatwrite  Old  Hymns. 

A  Character  Sketch. 

Reading  Letters  from  Absent  Members. 

Resp07ises  in  Behalf  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Church. 

Words  frofii  Former  Pastors — ReiK  Drs.    Woods., 
Roberts,  Laidla^v  atid  Lord. 

Bits  of  LListory. 

Calling  the  Roll,  and  Responses. 

The  Present  and  Future  Outlook. 

Singing — '■'The  Sweet  Bye  and  Bye P 

If  not  able  to  be  present,  please  respond  by  letter  or 
telegram.  It  is  hoped  that  a  large  representation  of 
the  church  will  be  in  attendance  to  erijoy  the  fellowship 
of  the  occasion. 


'"'•  Old  First  Church^^  in  Columbus.  87 

Though  owing  to  the  great  desire  of  many  to  be 
present,  the  attendance  had  to  be  restricted  to  the 
members  of  the  congregation  and  a  few  invited 
guests,  the  spacious  parlors  of  the  chapel  were 
thronged  with  a  numerous  company.  Nearly  four 
hundred  sat  down  to  the  bountiful  tables  at  one 
time.  The  pictures  of  the  church  edifices  first  built 
in  the  wilderness,  and  the  six  successive  changes  in 
the  place  in  which  the  church  had  worshiped,  elicited 
intense  interest  on  the  part  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion. 

Owing  to  the  taste  and  skill  of  the  ladies  in  charge, 
the  most  ample  and  delightful  accommodations  were 
afforded  to  all  participants. 

When  the  large  company  was  seated  at  the  tables, 
Mr.  P.  W.  Huntington,  who  presided  at  the  ban- 
quet, arose  and  said: 

"The  pastor  has  assigned  to  me  the  pleasant  duty 
of  presiding  here  to-night.  The  occasion  is  one  full 
of  interest  to  us  all,  and  if  some  of  the  memories  of 
the  hour  are  tinged  with  sadness,  they  are  more  ten- 
der and  lasting  on  that  account.  It  was  customary 
among  the  founders  of  this  church  to  invoke  the  Di- 
vine blessing  on  the  bounties  of  the  board.  We  will 
follow  their  example  in  that  regard." 

(Invocation  by  Rev.  N.  S.  Smith.) 


88  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

COLLATION. 

"It  was  also  customary  among  the  founders  of  this 
church  to  return  thanks,  after  each  meal,  for  the  pro- 
vision made  for  their  wants.  In  this,  too,  we  will 
follow  their  example." 

(Thanks  returned  by  the  pastor.) 

Then  the  presiding  officer  proceeded  with  the  in- 
tellectual feast  of  the  evening  in  the  order  as  arranged 
on  the  programme. 


SKETCH   OF    AN    OLD  AND    WORTHY    CITIZEN. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal : 

It  seems  eminently  proper  that  the  death  of  such 
a  man  as  Isaac  Dalton,  which  occurred  at  Shreve,  O., 
on  the  18th  inst.,  should  be  noted  in  the  press  of  the 
community  where  for  half  a  century  his  daily  walk  in 
life  has  been  such  as  to  inspire  the  highest  trust  and 
the  profoundest  respect  in  the  minds  of  two  genera- 
tions of  men. 

Mr.  Dalton  was  born  in  the  villlage  of  Warner, 
New  Hampshire,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1801,  and 
was,  therefore,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  seventy-nine 
years  of  age.  He  received,  in  his  native  village,  the 
ordinary  New  England  common  school  education, 
and  emigrated  to  this  city  in  1831,  where  he  at  once 
became  connected  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 


ELDER    ISAAC    DALTON. 


^^ Old  First  Church''  in  Columbus.  89 

under  the  pastorate  of  the  late  Dr.  James  Hoge.  In 
the  spring  of  1835,  Mr.  DaUon  was  elected  an  Elder 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  continued  in 
that  office  to  the  time  of  his  death,  a  period  of  forty- 
five  years.  He  held  various  places  of  public  trust, 
but  it  was  in  work  of  practical  benevolence  that  he 
took  the  greatest  interest.  During  the  prevalence  of 
cholera  in  the  years  1849  and  1850,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  City  Council  a  member  of  the  special  Board 
of  Health.  Many  of  our  older  citizens  can  testify  to 
the  efficiency  and  devotion  with  which  he  adminis- 
tered the  duties  of  this  office.  Under  his  direction, 
and  by  his  hand,  the  sick  were  tenderly  nursed,  and 
the  destitute  kindly  and  amply  provided  for.  In 
1862  he  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Tod,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Home  established  near  the  railroad 
station  for  the  use  of  soldiers  temporarily  in  the  city. 
Here  he  was  engaged  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
There  are  many  active  business  men  in  this  commu- 
nity who  remember  with  what  untiring  zeal  he  pros- 
ecuted, day  and  night,  the  arduous  duties  of  this  post, 
and  there  are  thousands  of  men,  the  land  over,  who 
recall  with  gratitude  the  fatherly  care  bestowed  upon 
them  when  sick  and  distressed  by  this  man,  who, 
while  ministering  to  their  bodily  comforts,  failed  not 
in  the  higher  and  nobler  work  of  strengthening  their 
spiritual  understanding.     The  latter  years  of  Mr.  Dal- 


90  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

ton's  life  were  spent  in  pleasant  travel  and  in  study. 
He  was  buried  on  the  lOth  inst.  from  the  church  in 
which  for  so  many  years  he  had  been  an  ofhcer. 

Possessed  of  a  retentive  memory  and  a  taste  for 
reading,  Mr.  Dalton  accumulated  a  large  library, 
composed  chiefly  of  books  on  religious  subjects,  the 
careful  study  of  which  gave  discipline  and  complete- 
ness to  a  mind  at  all  times  balanced  by  plain  good 
sense,  and  finish  to  a  character  of  perfect  rectitude — 
a  rectitude  that  seemed  to  spring  not  merely  from  a 
heart  well  guarded  by  conscience,  but  from  an  even 
poise  of  intellect,  which  could  not  incline  to  tempta- 
tion or  stoop  to  wrong.  The  impressions  left  on  this 
community  by  his  daily  walk  and  conversation  will 
be  deep  and  lasting;  but  the  congregation  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  before  whom  he  passed  in 
and  out  for  more  than  a  generation,  suffer  a  peculiar 
loss  in  his  death — the  loss  of  his  shining  example,  of 
his  valuable  counsel,  of  his  clear  and  practical  exhorta- 
tions, of  his  fervent,  specific  prayers.  Such  men, 
whatever  their  denominational  associations,  elevate 
the  public  morals.  Their  influence  is  good,  not  only 
in  the  traces  they  may  leave  as  teachers,  but  in  the 
higher  respect  of  the  people  for  Christian  character 
challenged  by  their  conspicuous  integrity. 

P.  W.  H. 

Columbus,  February  20, 1880. 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  91 


LETTERS  FB.C1VE  ABSENT  MEMBERS  and  ERIENDS 


Columbus,  Ohio,  February  5, 188G. 
Rev.  F.  E.  Marsten  : 

Dear  Sir:  We  regret  very  much  that  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  attend  any  of  the  evening  services,  as 
neither  of  us  have  help,  and  our  youngest  girl  is  too 
small  to  take  out  in  the  evening.       Yours  truly, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Walcutt. 


2  Woodland  Terrace,  ) 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  19,  1886.) 

Rev.  F.  E.  Marsten  : 

Dear  Friend:  I  hope  you  and  your  family  are 
well.  I  write  to  say  that  sister  Sarah  (I  mean  my 
husband's  sister,  Sarah  J.  Gill),  sends  kind  remem- 
brances to  yourself  and  family,  and  wishes  me  to  say 
that  she  united  with  the  First  Church  the  summer  of 
1832.  She  was  an  active  member  of  its  different 
societies,  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school  for 
many  years.  I  reached  Columbus  the  second  day  of 
November,  1833,  and  handed  in  my  letter  the  first 
communion  after.     Very  truly,  your  friend, 

Mary  S.  Gill 

from   one   who    has    been   connected   with   the 
church  for  over  50  years. 

816  Broad  St.,  February  8, 1886. 
My  regrets  that  indisposition  prevents  me  from  be- 


92  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

ing  present  at  the  anniversary  services  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church.  Nothing  outside  the  home 
could  possibly  interest  me  more,  as  I  have  been  iden- 
tified with  the  church  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
being  baptized  in  infancy  by  its  revered  founder.  Dr. 
Hoge,  a  Sabbath  school  scholar  and  teacher  for 
many  years.  The  associations  and  memories  become 
more  and  more  tender,  when  I  recall  the  innumerable 
company  that  has  passed  to  the  other  side.  Hoping 
that  others  have  taken  their  places,  and  the  vacancies 
permanently  revivified,  we  anticipate  for  the  dear 
alma  mater  and  "her  daughters"  a  future  of  progress 
and  usefulness. 

Regretting  lost  opportunities,  and  that  it  cannot  be 
said,    "  She  hath  done  what  she  could,"     I  remain. 
Devotedly,  Emily  McElvaine. 


Columbus,  O.,  February  5,  1886. 
Rev.  jFrancis  E.  Marsten.  Pastor  First  Presbyterian 

Church,  Colutnbus,  Ohio: 

Dear  Brother  in  Christ  :  I  am  this  day  in  re- 
ceipt of  the  invitation  and  anniversary  program,  but 
am  sorry  that  my  health  is  in  such  miserable  con- 
dition that  it  will  not  admit  of  my  going  out  at  all. 
Would  like  ever  so  much  to  attend  on  Sabbath,  but 
can  not  possibly  do  so.  May  God  add  his  blessings 
to  the  services,   and  may  much  good  be  done  in  His 


'•'■  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  93 

name.     Hoping   that  I  may  soon  be  able  to   meet 
with  you  again,   I  remain  yours  in  Christ, 

Ruth  Rightly, 
304  West  Second  ave..  City. 


2  Woodland  Terrace,   Philadelphia. 
Rev.  Dr.  Marsten  : 

Dear  Pastor  and  Friend:  Wishing  you  and  your 
family  all  the  joys  and  blessings  of  the  new  year,  I 
desire  to  thank  you  for  notice  of  the  coming  80th  an- 
niversary of  our  church  organization,  and  for  the 
beautiful  lines  which  accompany  and  form  part  of  the 
program.  It  was  a  happy  thought  to  celebrate  this 
anniversary.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  on  profession  of 
faith,  I  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
Pittsburg.  Rev.  Dr.  Herron  was  then  pastor  of  that 
church.  In  the  autumn  of  1833,  I  had  not  seen  my 
twentieth  year  when  I  handed  my  letter  from  Rev. 
Dr.  Herron  to  the  session  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Columbus,  Dr.  Hoge,  pastor.  Well  do  I 
remember  his  Wednesday  evening  lectures,  that 
autumn,  on  the  letters  to  the  seven  churches,  which 
were  in  Asia.  Later  lectures  and  sermons  I  remem- 
ber one,  on  "Signs  of  the  Times;"  one  to  show  that 
the  science  of  geology  did  not  conflict  with  Divine 
Revelation.  I  remember  the  semi-centennial  of  this 
organization,  when  our  revered  and  beloved  pastor. 


94  Eight  Decades  ifi  the  Lift  of  the 

Dr.  Hoge,  was  present,  and  many,  many  others  of 
our  church  connection,  who  have  passed  over  to  the 
other  side,  and  are  now  rejoicing  in  their  blessed 
mansions  which  our  dear  Savior  had  prepared  for 
them.  Dr.  Hoge  baptized  all  our  children  except 
two,  whose  advents  were  later.  He  performed  the 
marriage  ceremony  for  our  eldest  daughter  Annie  and 
Dr.  Wormley,  at  six  o'clock  one  bright  June  morning, 
when  the  church  was  crowded.  Tiiough  absent  these 
many  years,  Dr.  Hoge  still  lives  and  will  continue  to 
live  in  the  memory  and  hearts  of  many. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith  and  Rev.  Dr.  Marshall  left  their 
impressions  for  deep  piety  and  strong  moral  force. 
We  revere  and  cherish  their  memory.  Rev.  Dr. 
Woods,  who  I  trust  will  be  present  on  the  coming 
occasion.  Rev.  Dr.  Roberts,  Rev.  Dr.  Laidlaw,  Rev. 
Dr.  Lord  and  Rev.  Dr.  Bailey,  each  and  all  hold  warm 
places  in  our  memory  and  affections.  Do  give  them 
hearty  greetings  for  me.  I  regret  much  that  I  must 
be  absent  on  the  anticipated  eventful  occasion.  Tell 
Dr.  Laidlaw  I  remember  well  the  Spirit's  influence  on 
many  of  his  sermons,  and  of  his  performing  the  mar- 
riage ceremonies  for  two  of  our  daughters.  Tell  our 
beloved  Dr.  Lord  that  I  remember  many  of  his  beau- 
tiful sermons,  and  especially  those  lectures  on  Daniel, 
copies  of  the  manuscripts  of  which  are  packed  away 
somewhere  among  my  stored  belongings. 


''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  95 

Sister  Sarah,  our  so.i  John,  and  his  wife,  unite  in 
sending  greetings,  and  kind  remembrances  to  your- 
self, your  family,  and  to  our  mutual  friends.  Last 
autumn  I  had  been  fifty-two  years  a  member  of  the 
First  Church,  and  my  good  husband  is  just  six  days 
younger  than  the  organization  of  the  church.  I  trust 
he  Avill  be  with  you  on  the  occasion  of  the  re-union, 
and  that  you  may  all  have  a  most  enjoyable  time. 
Give  my  love  to  Mrs.  Marsten  and  Joseph,  and  again 
accept  thanks  for  your  remembrance  from  your  friend, 

Mary  S.  Gill. 


Oak  Street,  Walnut  Hills,  February  5,  1886. 
Rev.  Mr.  Marsten: 

I  regret  exceedingly  not  being  able  to  be  in  Colum- 
bus at  this  very  interesting  time.  Please  remember 
me  kindly  to  my  old  friends,  Mr.  Woods,  Dr.  Roberts 
and  Mr.  Laidlaw.  The  last-named  gentleman  per- 
formed the  ceremony  at  my  wedding.  I  would  love 
to  see  them  all  and  their  wives  if  they  are  there. 
Sincerely  yours.  Agnes  G.  Jordan. 


Columbus,  February  9,  1886. 
My  Bear  Mr.  Marsten  : 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  you  to  know  the  origin  ot 
the  ladies'  festivals  or  fairs  in  our  church,  wliich 
have    been    the  means  of  raising  money   for   various 


96  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

church  purposes,  and  to  which  you  have  so  pleasantly 
alluded  during  this  anniversary  occasion.  It  was  in 
1833  when  my  mother,  Mary  S.  Gill,  came  a  bride 
from  Braddock's  Field  Seminary,  and  thought  they 
ought  to  have  a  better  accompaniment  for  the  church 
singing  than  the  viohn,  base  viol  and  flute.  Amid  much 
opposition  from  various  members  of  the  church,  but 
with  encouragement  from  Dr.  Hoge,  she  induced 
some  of  the  ladies  to  assist  her  in  getting  up  a  festival 
to  raise  money  for  the  purchase  of  the  organ  now  in 
use  in  the  church.  She  painted  exquisitely  in  water 
colors,  and  with  her  brush  decorated  very  many  ar- 
ticles which  were  sold  at  the  first  fair.  Columbus,  at 
that  time,  was  not  a  very  musical  city.  There  were, 
at  that  time,  only  two  pianos  here,  one  belonging  to 
Mrs.  Wilcox,  mother  of  Gen.  James  Wilcox,  and  the 
other  to  mother,  and  there  was  not  an  organ  in  the 
place  (neither  church  nor  private  organ),  and  one  of 
the  elders  and  others  opposed  the  getting  of  so  un- 
godly an  institution,  for  such  they  considered  it.  Thus 
you  see  the  origin  of  the  ladies'  fairs  in  our  church 
and  of  a  musical  era  in  our  city. 

Very  sincerely  yours.  Wilson  L.  Gill. 

816  Broad  St. 
Mrs.  De  Witt  regrets  that  she  cannot  be  present  at 
the  anniversary  this  evening.     Mr.  De  Wilt  is  out  of 
the  city. 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbns.  97 

FROM    A    PILLAR. 

Springfield,  Mass.,  Feb.  7,  1886. 
Dear  Mr.  Mars  ten  : 

Having  been  a  pillar  (perhaps  you  may  think  a 
shaky  one)  of  the  '"Old  First"  for  upward 'of  forty 
years,  and  not  being  able  to  be  present  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  her  eightieth  anniversary,  will  simply  say,  in 
the  language  of  Rip  Van  Winkle,  "may  she  live  long, 
and  her  family  prosper."  Are  having  winter  down 
here  after  the  good  old  Yankee  fashion.  Regards  to 
your  family  and  self. 

Yours  truly, 

William  A.  Gill. 


West  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Feb.  8,  1886. 

Rev.  Fraticis  E.  Marste?i  : 

Greetings  and  best  wishes  to  pastor,  former  pastors 

and  church. 

T.  G.  WoRMLEY  and  Family. 


Columbia,  O.,  Feb.  8,  1886. 
P.   IV.  Hiintingto7i  : 

Impossible  for  me  to  be  in  Columbus  to-morrow 

night.     Thanks. 

Orland  Smith. 


CiRCLEviLLE,  O.,  Feb.  8,  1886. 
Dear  Brother  Mars  ten  : 

Very.,   very,   VERY   sorry  that    I   cannot    come. 


98  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 


Harry  has  been  quite  sick  for  a  week  and  though 
convalescing  I  do  not  like  to  get  away  from  him,  as  he 
makes  such  large  uses  of  me.  I  did  think  I  might 
run  up  Tuesday  p.  m.  and  be  with  you  at  the  ban- 
quet, but  an  engagement  for  that  evening  here  which 
cannot  be  broken  interferes.  I  have  many  things  to 
write,  but  will  defer  until  to-morrow  when  I  will  write 
more  fully. 

Cordially  yours, 

James  P.  Stratton. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  Feb.  15,  1886. 
Rev.  Francis  E.  Atarsten.,  Columbus^  O.: 

My  Dear  Sir — I  doubt  not  you  were  surprised, 
possibly  offended,  at  my  apparent  neglect  of  your 
kind  invitation  to  be  present  and  participate  in  your 
anniversary  exercises,  on  the  9th  inst.  When  you  are 
informed  that  your  inclosures  did  not  come  to  my 
notice  until  Thursday  morning,  11th  inst.,  I  trust  you 
will  consider  me  fairly  excusable.  On  Tuesday  even- 
ing, 2nd  inst.,  the  date  of  your  letter,  I  left  for  Chi- 
cago, and  was  gone  all  the  week.  Monday  (8th)  I 
spent  on  the  railroad,  and  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
(9th  and  10th)  I  devoted  to  the  Loyal  Legion  anni- 
versary. So  you  see  how  it  was.  I  did  not  receive 
Mr.  Peabody's  telegram,  but  did  receive  Mr.  Hunt- 
ington's while  out  on  the  railroad,  and  responded  very 


"■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  99 

briefly  by  wire,  supj^osing  it  to  be  the  original  invita- 
tion, although  the  language  seemed  to  imply  that 
some  communication  had  preceded  it.  It  would 
have  been  impracticable  for  me  to  be  present  with 
you ;  nevertheless  I  should  not  have  been  quite  so 
laconic  in  my  reply  had  I  fully  understood  the  situa- 
tion. Regretting  the  contretemps,  and  congratulating 
you  on  your  success,  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

Orland  Smith. 


RESPONaE-.  IN  BdHALF  OF  THE  DAUGHTERS 
OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  presiding  officer  called  upon  Rev.  Francis  E. 
Marsten  to  respond  to  the  sentiment,  "  Tiie  Ladies." 

thp:  pastor's  remarks. 
Have  I  not  already  written  all  that,  as  pastor,  I 
possibly  ought  to  say  on  this  theme?  I  pause  before 
the  greatness  of  the  subject  and  my  inability  to  do  it 
justice.  It  must  be  a  difficult  task,  for  our  noblest 
men  have  shrunk  back  abashed  from  its  essay.  I 
pause.  I  seem  to  stand  to-night  on  holy  ground. 
The  white  wings  of  the  sainted  dead  seem  to  move 
noiseless  through  these  halls,  shedding  benedictions 
as  they  pass,  for  I  am  to  speak  of  the  departed  as 
well  as  the  sisterhood  of  the  living.  Elder  Thomas 
has  paid  a  pretty  tribute  to  the  memory  of  that  devout 
woman,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Campbell.     Too  much  cannot 


100  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

be  said  of  the  influence  of  the  women  of  this  church 
in  promoting  its  prosperity,  spiritual  and  temporal. 
When  the  semi-centennial  of  this  church  was  cele- 
brated, which  appeared  in  the  report  of  the  exercises 
in  the  public  journal  of  the  following  morning,  I  find,' 
the  name  of  Mrs.  Kelsey  as  prominent  among  those 
who  helped  to  make  that  occasion  a  great  success. 
And  it  is  auspicious  of  the  future  institution  that  the 
mantle  of  the  mother  has  fallen  on  the  daughter,  and 
she,  with  the  daughters  of  other  heroic  and  saintly 
women,  have  contributed  so  much  to  make  this  fes- 
tival one  that  our  memories  shall  not  willingly  let  die. 

It  speaks  well  for  these  wives  and  mothers  of  the 
past  that  their  religion,  taught  by  both  precept  and 
example,  has  become  the  well-spring  of  activity  on 
the  part  of  their  children. 

It  is  a  good  omen  also,  and  a  witness  to  the  value 
of  the  gospel  they  preached,  both  by  precept  and  ex-; 
ample,  that  the  children-,  grand  children  and  great 
grand  children  of  the  venerated  founder  of  this  church: 
and  his  wife  of  blessed  memory,  are  found  following 
the  same  Saviour  they  loved  so  well  and  obeyed  so 
faithfully,  and  are  here  with  us  to-night  partaking  in 
the  general  joy,  verifying  the  truth  of  Holy  Writ  that; 
the  covenant  of  God  is  to  the  children's  children,  even 
unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that  love 
and  serve  Him. 


'■'■Old  First  Church''''  in  Columbus.  101 

The  ladies  of  this  church  have  been  in  the  past,  and 
are  now  in  the  hving  present,  its  strong  support  on  the 
human  side  in  doing  the  Master's  work  in  the  develop- 
ment of  piety,  and  in  those  practical  deeds  of  benev- 
olence which  demonstrate  that  the  kingdom  of  God 
has  come  down  to  this  weary  world.  Where  would 
the  missionary  work  of  this  church  be  if  it  were  not 
for  the  women?  Where  would  this  chapel  be  if  not 
for  the  women?  Where  would  our  Sunday  school 
work  be  ?  What  would  become  of  the  prayer  meet- 
ing, the  spiritual  thermometer  of  the  church. 

The  ladies !  God  bless  them.  May  benedictions 
of  love  and  hope  and  peace  rain  upon  them  now  and 
forever. 

I  dare  not  stop  to  mention  names  to-night,  on  my 
own  account,  for  if  I  should  start  in  the  perilous  cat- 
alogue I  know  no  good  reason  why  every  woman  who 
has  ever  been  connected  with  the  "  Old  First "  should 
not  receive  appropriate  recognition,  and  I  tremble  in 
my  inmost  soul  at  the  appalling  task.  They  were  all 
good  women ! 

I  want  to  thank  the  ladies  whose  deft  fingers,  ex- 
quite  taste  and  tireless  diligence  have  done  so  much 
to  evoke  the  perfect  harmony  of  this  hour.  Their 
united  beauty  shining  in  a  starry  galaxy  in  the  firma- 
ment of  memory  shall  serve  to  enlighten  many  a  dark 


102  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

experience  on  the  changing  sea  of  hfe.  Again,  I  say, 
God  bless  the  ladies  of  tlie  "  Old  First." 

HON.  CHAUNCEY  N.   OLDS 

brought  the  greetings  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  said: 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  partici- 
pate by  your  kind  invitation  in  these  anniversary  ser- 
vices, and  to  speak  briefly  in  the  name  and  on  behalf 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  this  mother  of  churches  in  this  city.  It  is  a 
pleasure  to  me  personally,  as  well  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Second  Church. 

"  The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
on  the  first  Sabbath  in  INIarch,  1839,  with  thirty-one 
members,  of  whom  twenty-seven  were  granted  letters 
of  dismission  from  this  church  for  that  purpose. 

"  It  is  true,  I  suppose,  as  a  matter  of  history,  that 
the  organization  of  that  church  resulted  in  part  at 
least  from  the  then  recent  division  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  into  what  was  known  as  the  Old  and  New 
school,  which  separation  took  place  in  1837.  And 
it  is  probably  true,  also,  as  a  part  of  the  history  of 
these  two  churches,  that  the  mother  church  gave  a 
rather  reluctant  consent  to  the  eldest  daughter  going 
out  from  the  old  homestead  and  setting  up  house- 
keeping on  her  own  account.     But  if  there  ever  were 


^'' Old  First  Church"  in  Colu?nbus.  103 

any  heart-burnings  resulting  theretVom,  it  is  a  pleas- 
ure to  be  able  to  say  they  have  long  since  passed 
away. 

"  I  became  connected  with  the  Second  Church  in 
the  spring  of  1856  ;  nearly  thirty  years  ago  ;  and  I  can 
bear  cheerful  testimony  to  the  mutual  kindness,  har- 
mony, Christian  courtesy  and  Christian  fellowship, 
which  have  characterized  the  intercourse  between 
these  two  households  of  faith,  from  that  day  to  the 
present  auspicious  hour. 

"  In  this  connection  it  may  be  pertinent  to  revive 
the  recollection  of  the  following  item  in  the  history  of 
these  churches : 

"  A  daily  morning  prayer  meeting  was  organized 
in  the  basement  of  this  church  on  the  l-4th  of  March, 
1858.  It  was  a  union  meeting  of  several  evangelical 
churches  of  the  city  and  was  kept  up  for  nearly  seven- 
teen years.  For  a  short  time  it  was  attended  by 
large  crowds  of  Christian  people,  but  for  most  of  the 
years  of  its  existence  by  a  small  company  only.  And 
yet  when  reduced  to  the  smallest  number,  there  were 
usually  representatives  from  at  least  five  diflerent  de- 
nominations of  Christians.  That  daily  prayer  meeting 
attracted  little  public  attention,  and  probably  is  now 
remembered  by  very  few  persons,  but  its  history  is 
written  on  more  than  one  immortal  soul,  and  will 
live  as  long  as  immortality   shall  endure.     I  was  a 


104  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

constant  attendant  upon  that  meeting  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  end,  and  I  have  referred  to  it  here  and 
now  because  it  was,  in  my  judgment,  so  largely  in- 
strumental in  cultivating  and  promoting  that  kind- 
ness, harmony.  Christian  courtesy  and  Christian  fel- 
lowship of  which  I  have  already  spoken.  To  me 
personally  it  made  the  old  First  Church  building  a 
hallowed  place,  and  my  affections  still  chng  to  it  as 
if  I  were  really  a  member  of  this  Christian  household. 

"  I  may  also  mention  the  fact  that  I  knew  the 
venerable  Dr.  James  Hoge  (the  organizer  and  for 
fifty  years  the  pastor  of  this  church)  probably  longer 
ago  than  most  of  the  present  members  of  the  church. 
I  met  him  first  in  1831,  when  I  was  a  young  boy  at 
school  in  the  Ohio  University  at  Athens,  and  when' 
he  was  one  of  the  prominent  trustees  of  that  institu- 
tion ;  and  my  acquaintance  with  him  continued  until 
his  death.  One  of  his  nephews,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Moses 
D.  Hoge,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  was  for  a  year  one  of  my 
room-mates  at  Athens,  and  another  nephew,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  WilHam  Hoge,  now  deceased,  was  my  first  Sun- 
day school  scholar. 

"In  looking  back  over  the  eighty  years  of  this 
church,  the  personal  life  and  labors  and  character  of 
the  venerable  and  now  sainted  Dr.  Hoge  are  blended 
with  and  inseparably  interwoven  into  the  first  fifty 
years  of  that  history.     Indeed,  it  may  almost  be  said 


^^ Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  105 

that  they  make  the  history  itself;  certainly  a  very 
large  part  of  it.  What  an  impressive  lesson,  and  how 
instructive,  those  early  years  present,  for  example,  of 
the  scope  and  value  and  far-reaching  results  of  the 
Home  Missionary  work  of  the  great  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  United  States,  in  sending  the  living 
minister,  as  she  is  still  doing,  to  the  distant  frontiers 
of  our  broad  land. 

In  1805  or  1806,  the  General  Assembly  at  Phil- 
adelphia commissioned  and  sent  out  Dr.  Hoge  as  a 
Home  Missionary  to  the  frontier  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  river,  then  on  the  outer  borders  of  civilized  life. 
He  crossed  the  Alleghanies  on  horseback,  with  his 
worldly  possessions  in  his  saddle  bags,  and  came  to 
the  little  hamlet  of  Franklinton,  then  a  remote  out- 
post, and  began  his  life  work.  The  primeval  forest, 
then  unbroken,  covered  the  ground  where  the  city  of 
Columbus  now  stands, 

"  Glance  at  the  familiar  history  of  that  life  work 
for  a  moment  only,  and  behold  what  grand  results. 
Dr.  Hoge  labored  not  only  as  a  Christian  minister  in 
founding  this  first  church,  and  training  the  early  set- 
tlers and  their  children  in  the  doctrines  and  habits  of 
an  earnest  Christian  Hfe.  He  labored  also  as  a  Chris- 
tian citizen,  in  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundations 
of  a  great  Christian  State,  and  the  impress  of  his  intel- 
lect and  heart  and  life  is  stamped  upon  our  State  ben- 


106  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

evolent  institutions,  our  common  school  system,  and 
all  the  best  elements  of  our  Christian  civilization.  It 
may  be  safely  said,  indeed,  that  the  hfe  and  labors  of 
Dr.  Hoge  in  this  city,  as  the  capital  of  the  State, 
have  been  worth  more  to  the  State  herself,  than  any 
ten  Governors  she  ever  had. 

"  But  I  cannot  dwell  upon  this  theme,  nor  trespass 
upon  your  time  further,  though  the  theme  is  so  fruit- 
ful and  suggestive  of  precious  lessons. 

"  May  God  bless  this  dear  Church,  and  make  the 
history  of  the  next  eighty  years  even  more  prosperous 
and  precious  than  the  past  has  been.  We  shall  not 
live  to  see  it,  Mr.  Chairman.  Men  die,  but  the 
Church  lives ;  and  will  hve  so  long  as  she  remains  in 
vital  union  with  the  Lord  Christ,  the  great  and  ever 
living  Head  of  the  Church  on  earth  and  in  heaven." 

PROFESSOR   JOSIAH    R.    SMITH, 

in  behalf  of  Westminster,  spoke  as  follows : 

"The  American  appetite  for  a  'speech'  is  pro- 
verbially infinite;  otherwise  one  might  think  that, 
after  three  days  "reminiscencing,"  the  good  people  of 
the  First  Church  would  be  inclined  to  spare  them- 
selves the  infliction  of  any  more  eloquence.  But  the 
command  has  been  laid  upon  me  to  say  something  on 
behalf  of  Westminster  Church — a  command  which  I 
cheerfully  obey. 


''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  107 


"  As  we  gather  round  the  hospitable  board  of  the 
Mother  Church  to-niglit,  two  notable  family  re-unions 
suggest  themselves  as  possible  parallels,  one  scriptural 
and  one  secular.  The  first  is  the  return  of  the  Prod- 
igal Son  to  the  yearning  arms  of  his  father.  But  the 
parallel  fails  us  here.  For  the  prodigal  came  home 
to  confess  his  sin  and  folly  in  leaving  the  parental 
roof,  and  to  promise  for  the  future  to  stay  with  his 
father  Westminster  has  no  such  confession  and  no 
such  promise  to  make  to-night.  Rather  is  it  a 
Thanksgiving  dinner,  where  children — grown  up  chil- 
dren— gather  round  their  mother  and  renew  the  affec- 
tionate relations  of  their  childhood,  and  listen  to  her 
own  stories  of  'when  she  was  a  girl.'  Westminster 
is  now  a  matron  of  thirty-two,  and  as  she  joins  the 
family  circle  to-night  she  could  not,  if  she  would, 
utter  any  playful  sarcasms  about  the  'silver  hairs' 
and  '  declining  years '  of  her  venerable  parent.  For 
here  the  parallel  again  breaks  down.  Individuals 
pass  away ;  but  the  church  hves,  and  grows,  and  con- 
tinually renews  her  youth. 

"  Two  years  ago  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church 
celebrated  her  thirtieth  birthday,  and  it  may  not  be 
thought  out  of  place  if  I  reproduce  here  the  opening 
words  of  a  paper  which  I  had  the  honor  and  pleasure 
to  prepare  for  that  occasion  : 

"  Thirty  years  ago  a  little  band  of  pilgrims  gathered 


108  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

themselves  together,  bade  their  mother  church  a  filial 
farewell,  and  with  resolute  faith  went  forth  to  set  up  a 
new  altar  of  worship  to  the  God  who  had  blessed  their 
fathers  and  them.  The  parent  was  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Columbus;  the  eager  aspiring  child 
was  Westminster  Church. 

"  The  organization  of  the  new  churcii  was  no  hastily 
devised  or  rashly  executed  scheme;  it  had  been  a 
matter  of  grave  and  prayerful  deliberation  for  years. 
In  July,  1851,  we  find  the  session  of  the  First  Church 
debating  the  subject,  and  unanimously  approving  a 
new  church  enterprise.  Then  follows  a  period  of  three 
years,  during  which  the  project  seems  to  have  lain  in 
abeyance,  owing  to  several  causes,  chief  among  which 
was  the  considerable  expense  incurred  in  remodehng 
the  church,  and  the  consequent  need  of  husbanding 
all  resources.  But  in  March,  1854,  the  session  took 
up  the  matter  again,  and  forwarded  to  Presbytery  a 
memorial  asking  for  the  establishment  of  a  colony. 

"  The  Presbytery,  sitting  in  April,  after  considera- 
tion, granted  the  prayer  of  the  memorialists,  and  on 
the  1st  of  June,  1854,  as  the  spring  deepened  and 
ripened  into  the  fullness  of  summer,  the  child  was 
born  whose  thirtieth  birthday  we  celebrate  to-day, 
and  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of  Colum- 
bus entered  upon  the  career  which  God  had  destined 
for  it  to  accomplish. 


'•''Old  First  Church''  in  Columbus.  109 

"It  was  the  middle  of  the  'fifties,'  that  outwardly 
lethargic,  inwardly  fermenting  decade,  in  which  great 
social  and  political  questions  were  working  timidly  on 
to  a  great  and  awful  solution.  But  their  time  had  not 
yet  come;  the  land  rested  in  profound  peace.  Col- 
umbus was  a  rather  sleepy,  pretty  town  of  some 
eighteen  thousand  people,  with  Httle  beyond  its  po- 
litical importance  to  aid  its  growth.  The  Presby- 
terian camp  was  as  yet  divided.  Old  School  and 
New  School,  differing  in  non-essentials,  were  still 
agreeing  to  dwell  apart.  The  First  Church  felt  itself 
almost  alone  in  the  field ;  the  field  was  slowly  but 
surely  widening,  and  the  call  for  a  new  station  in  the 
harvest  field  rang  imperatively  in  the  ears  of  the 
mother  church.  Its  two  pastors  at  the  time  were 
the  venerable  Dr.  James  Hoge  and  his  younger  col- 
league, Rev.  Josiah  D.  Smith.  Thirty  communicants 
composed  the  young  colony;  an  additional  delega- 
tion, twenty-five  strong,  was  soon  after  added,  and 
the  young  church  started  on  its  way  with  a  member- 
ship of  about  sixty.  On  the  15th  of  June  the  new 
organization  elected  the  Rev.  Josiah  D.  Smith  to  be 
its  pastor,  and  the  question  of  his  removal  from  the 
First  Church  was  refereed  to  the  Presbytery,  con- 
vened in  July.  It  was  decided  that  he  should  go ;  on 
the  5th  of  August  he  was  formally  installed  as  first 
pastor ;  and  the  separation  was  now  complete.' 


110  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

"The  retrospective  attitude  of  mind  is  inevitably  a 
saddening  one,  for  individuals  and  for  churches ;  and, 
mixed  with  the  spirit  of  thanksgiving  for  what  God 
hath  wrought,  comes  the  melancholy  remembrance  of 
those  who  should  be  with  us  to-night  but  are  not,  who 
have  fallen  by  the  wayside,  who  have  made  the  church 
a  sort  of  spiritual  caravanserai,  where  they  might  rest 
for  a  night  and  pass  on,  who  have  allowed  themselves 
to  succumb  to  the  torpor  of  inactivity,  and  have  in- 
sensibly become  strangers  and  aliens  in  the  house  of 
God. 

"But  we  are  called  upon  to  look  forward  as  well  as 
back,  to  thank  God  and  take  courage,  and  to  resolve, 
mother  and  daughters,  that  the  mother's  hundredth 
birthday,  when,  it  comes,  shall  find  a  happy  family, 
united  and  enthusiastic  in  every  good  word  and  work. 

WILLIAM    S.   SACKETT, 

a  grandson  of  Dr.  Hoge,  responded  for  Hoge  Church: 
Mr.  Chairman  and  Friends :  It  is  with  pleasure 
that  Hoge  Church  sends  a  representative  to  lay  a  gar- 
land, twined  with  gratitude  and  good  wishes,  at  the 
feet  of  the  mother  church  on  this,  her  anniversary. 
Although  the  passing  years  have  taken  from  us  all 
the  members  of  the  little  band  sent  out  by  the  First 
Church  to  establish  a  memorial  organization  in  what 
was  then  one  of  the  missionary  districts  of  the  city, 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  Ill 

we  still  cherish  tender  recollections  of  them  and  of 
their  faithful  labor.  We  hold  the  First  Church  in 
grateful  remembrance  for  the  helping  hand  oftentimes 
extended  to  us  in  our  day  of  need,  and  as  we  ofter 
our  congratulations  on  this  occasion,  we  ask  the  great 
head  of  the  church  to  prosper  you  in  every  good 
work,  and  to  make  our  maternal  church  in  the  future, 
as  it  has  been  in  the  past,  a  beacon  light  in  this  com- 
munity, guiding  many  storm-tossed  and  ship-wrecked 
souls  into  the  harbor  of  eternal  safety. 

MR.   C.   A.   DENTON 

responded  in  fitting  terms  in  behalf  of  the  Collegiate 
Church,  and  expressed  great  hopes  for  its  future.  His 
remarks  elicited  enthusiastic  applause. 

THE    ELDERSHIP    OF    TWENTY-FIVE    YEARS    AGO ELDER 

JAMES    S.    ABBOTT,   ORDAINED    IN    1849. 

In  referring  to  the  honored  men  who  constituted 
the  session  of  this  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago,  it  is  not  expected  that 
they  be  individually  considered.  Each  one,  however, 
would  present  an  honorable  record.  Of  their  char- 
acter and  works,  collectively,  I  very  briefly  allude. 
They  were  men  of  deep  piety,  of  devotion  and  earn- 
estness, and  men  of  prayer;  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of   their    duties,   reaHzing   their    responsiblities  and 


112  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

sought  wisdom,  grace  and  direction  from  Him  who 
had  called  them  to  this  service.  In  their  councils 
they  were  united  and  harmonious,  always  looking  and 
acting  for  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  church. 

That  some,  especially  the  younger  members  of  the 
congregation,  may  know  the  fruit  of  whose  labors  they 
now  enjoy,  I  will  read  their  names:  James  Cherry, 
Isaac  N.  Dalton,  Thomas  Moodie,  James  S.  Abbott, 
William  M.  Awl,  and  Alfred  Thomas.  These  are  the 
names  of  the  men  whose  watchful  care  has  largely 
contributed  to  our  present  prosperity  and  enjoyment. 
These  men  have  come  and  gone,  all  gone,  excepting 
two,  brother  Thomas,  who  is  still  a  faithful  member 
as  you  all  this  day  bear  witness,  and  one  other.  They 
have  gone  and  their  works  do  follow  them — .yes,  their 
good  works  will  follow  through  time  into  eternity. 
Being  dead  they  yet  speak;  speak  to  us  to  be  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  christian  duties,  that  they  who 
come  after  us  may  also  call  7is  blessed. 

The  past  is  passed  and  gone,  and  as  we  look  back 
is  it  not  a  past  to  thank  God  for  and  take  courage, 
for  are  we  not  now  gathering  the  rich  fruit  and  sweet 
and  fragrant  flowers  from  these  early  seed,  watched 
over  and  cultivated  by  a  faithful  pastor  and  a  wise 
and  prudent  Sessions. 


ELDER    JAMES    S.    ABBOTT. 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbns.  113 

THE     TRUSTEES    OF     TWENTY-FIVE     YEARS     AGO HON. 

GEORGE    M.    PARSONS. 

Mr.  Parsons  spoke  of  the  temporalities  of  the 
church  and  drew  out  round  after  round  of  hearty 
applause,  showing  how  well  he  carried  his  audience 
with  him. 

BITS    OF    HISTORY HON.     HORACE    WILSON. 

Mr.  President:  I  do  not  feel  that  I  should  say 
anything  this  evening;  first,  because  I  am  not  well, 
bcause  I  see  so  many  here  who  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  First  Church  so  much  longer  than 
myself.  But,  like  most  of  the  others  who  have  spoken, 
Dr.  Hoge  comes  up  before  me,  and  the  memory  of 
what  I  knew  of  him  and  saw  of  his  life  impels  me  to 
say  a  word,  hoarse  as  I  am. 

In  1811  I  was  a  student  at  the  Ohio  State  Uni- 
versity in  Athens,  my  native  place.  One  evening 
in  May  as  I,  with  other  students,  was  going  to 
supper,  we  saw  coming  up  the  walk  with  President 
William  H.  McGufifey  a  tall,  erect  gentleman  of  com- 
manding presence,  and  I  was  immediately  impressed 
with  his  look  and  bearing,  as  were  other  members  of 
our  company,  and  the  inquiry  immediately  was,  made 
"Who  is  he?"  I  think  Milton  Latham,  who  was 
with  us,  replied  that  it  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Hoge, 
of  his  place  (Columbus).     Our   crowd   boarded    at 


114  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

Brown's  Hotel,  where  all  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity stopped  at  their  meetings.  We  soon  learned 
that  Dr.  Hoge  was  one  of  the  Trustees,  and  had 
been  for  some  years,  and  that  he  was  one  of  the  men 
to  whom  great  consideration  was  given  as  to  the  col- 
lege. I  remember  often  seeing  Dr.  Hoge  with  Mr. 
McGuffey  in  their  morning  walks  together  about  the 
campus.  I  know  that  when  Dr.  Hoge  remained  over 
he  was  accustomed  to  give  us  a  Sunday  evening  lec- 
ture, and  sometimes  at  morning  chapel  service  Dr. 
Hoge  gave  us  short  talks.  I  was  in  some  way,  I  do 
not  know  why,  drawn  toward  the  Doctor,  and  before 
I  left  college  had  formed  some  acquaintance  with  him, 
so  that  on  several  occasions  we  talked  together.  I 
remember  in  these  talks  some  things  that,  to  me.  at 
my  age,  seemed  wonderful.  He  said  that  as  a  rule 
he  had  always  rode  on  horseback  from  Columbus  to 
Athens,  winter  and  summer.  Columbus  was  at  that 
time  much  further  from  Athens  in  the  way  of  travel 
than  at  present — it  was  two  long  days'  ride.  I  think 
Dr.  Hoge  told  me  that  he  had  come  West  on  horse- 
back, and  at  an  early  day  he  had  gone  over  most  of 
the  state  and  into  the  adjoining  states  on  horseback, 
on  missionary  work.  Dr.  Hoge  spoke  of  many  of  the 
old  pioneers  of  Ohio  who  had  been  connected  with 
him  in  the  college  or  in  the  church,  and  I  learned  to 
love  this  man  with  something  akin   to  adoration  in 


'■'■Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  115 

the  after  years  when  1  knew  him  well.  His  son,  Rev. 
Moses  Hoge,  was  the  pastor  of  our  church  in  Athens, 
and  baptized  my  two  eldest  sons. 

Dr.  Hoge,  in  1848,  married  me  in  this  county,  and 
when  afterwards  the  Trustees  of  the  Ohio  University 
met  at  Athens,  the  Doctor  most  always  dined  or 
supped  at  my  house.  I  then  learned  that  under  the 
seeming  cold  exterior  he  had  a  great  deal  of  tender- 
ness and  warmth  of  character  in  his  composition.  I 
remember  often  at  the  table  he  entertained  us,  with 
other  guests,  by  his  experiences  in  the  early  history 
of  the  state,  intermingling  with  these  experiences 
beautiful  lessons  of  the  good  and  true.  His  voice  in 
private  conversation  could  always  be  modulated  into 
soft  and  tender  tones,  to  suit  the  subject  and  the 
company,  and  that,  too,  without  losing  any  of  the  dig- 
nity peculiar  to  him.  Not  like  most  men,  Dr.  Hoge 
grew  greater  the  nearer  you  got  to  him.  His  life,  like 
a  level  plain  that  spreads  out  beautifully  before  you, 
was  even;  no  abrupt  ascensions  or  deep  declivities  in 
his  character.  At  the  meetings  of  the  College  Trus- 
tees, when  other  members  were  noisy  and  loud-spoken, 
as  the  students  could  hear,  Dr.  Hoge's  sonorous  tones 
were  always  modulated  in  about  the  same  key,  and 
seemed  to  tell  in  the  force  peculiar  to  his  character. 
I  have  heard  it  said  by  more  than  one  student  in  my 


116  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

college  days  that  they  meant  to  be  quiet,  dignified 
and  good,  like  Dr.  Hoge. 

In  1853  Dr.  Hoge  resigned  his  office  as  Trustee  of 
the  Ohio  University,  and  in  1853  Governor  Medill 
appointed  me  to  succeed  him,  and  I  have  been  since 
that  time  been  his  humble  successor.  The  Doctor 
afterwards,  on  meeting  him,  gave  me  kindly  words  of 
advice,  and  I  never  failed  to  be  entertained  and  bene- 
fited by  his  society. 

In  February,  1859,  I  moved  to  this  city,  and  at 
once  became  connected  with  the  "  Old  First "  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  have  so  remained  since  that 
time.  As  Treasurer  and  Trustee  of  the  church 
since  a  year  or  so  after  I  came,  I  have  often  been 
impressed  with  the  same  quiet  dignity  of  the  con- 
gregation, who  seemed  to  have  been  educated  in 
that  direction  by  the  long,  faithful  and  devoted  ser- 
vices of  Dr.  Hoge,  who  not  only  impressed  his  own 
great  pure  character  upon  the  church,  the  congrega- 
tion and  the  city  in  which  he  lived,  but  in  the  sphere 
of  his  duties  and  life  largely  molded  many  of  the 
great  institutions  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Alf-;ed  Thomas,  who  has  been  an  Elder  of 
this  Church  in  faithful  service  since  1857,  and  to 
whom  so  much  of  its  prosperity,  both  temporal  and 
spiritual,  is   due,    paid  a   most  eloquent  tribute   to 


'■'■  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  117 

Mrs.    Campbell,  a   sainted   member  of  the   Church, 
and  read  the  following  letters  from  former  pastors : 

Pantops  Academy,  near  Charlottesville,  Va.  ) 
February  1,  1886.  j 

Mr  Dear  Mr.  Thotnas  : 

Your  letter,  containing  the  kind  invitation  of  your 
Session  and  yourself,  reached  me  on  Friday  evening 
last,  and  would  have  been  answered  sooner  but  that 
I  have  been  unwell.  I  should  postpone  all  writmg, 
were  it  not  that  I  feel  constrained  to  assure  you  that 
your  kind  remembrance  of  me  is  highly  appreciated. 

I  have  just  sent  a  dispatch  to  Air.  jNIarsten — who 
courteously  telegraphed  me  on  his  own  account — in 
forming  him  that  I  am  unable  to  go.  This  arises 
from  my  present  condition  of  health,  as  well  as  from 
a  number  of  other  considerations :  among  them  one 
which  has  just  occurred,  the  death  of  my  brother,  in 
Missouri.  You  doubtless  met  with  him  when  he 
visited  us  during  our  residence  in  Columbus.  He 
died  suddenly  yesterday  morning,  as  we  were  ad- 
vised by  telegraph. 

Please  convey  to  the  Session  my  grateful  thanks 
for  their  kind  invitation  to  be  present  on  the  interest- 
ing occasion  you  are  anticipating.  It  would  be  ex- 
ceedingly pleasant  on  many  accounts  to  avail  myself 
of  it.  I  feel  an  undying  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  dear  Old  Church.     Often  do  my  thoughts  recall 


118  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

and  dwell  on  the  countless  interesting  and  pleasant 
scenes  that  transpired  during  the  period  of  my  con- 
nection with  it.  1  should  be  glad  to  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  your  present  pastor.  I  should  rejoice 
to  meet  the  remaining  members  of  my  old  Session. 
I  believe  there  still  hve  Dalton,  Abbott,  and  your- 
self. It  would  give  me  the  sincerest  pleasure  to 
shake  by  the  hand  all  that  remains  of  my  old  flock. 
I  love  them  still,  and  often  think  of  them,  and  pray 
for  them.  But  I  will  be  present  with  you  in  spirit : 
and  trust  that  you  will  all  have  a  most  pleasant 
season  of  communion  as  Christian  brethren,  and  the 
Blessed  Lord  will  be  with  you  to  give  you  a  fresh  and 
more  complete  consecration  to  His  service. 

This  morning  we  received  a  long  letter  from  my 
son  Henry,  in  China.  He  and  his  family  are  very 
well.  He  is  much  interested  in  his  work,  and  in 
every  letter  is  loud  in  his  cry  for  more  laborers  in  the 
Chinese  field.  The  sad  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Butler 
and  his  son  from  cholera,  occurred  six  miles  from  his 
station — Chin  Kiang — and  they  were  buried  in  the 
same  grave  in  the  foreign  cemetery  of  that  place. 

The  Lord  richly  bless  you  and  yours. 
Yours  most  truly, 

E.  Woods. 


^'■Old  First  Church''  in  Columbus.  119 

280  Broadway,  New  York,  ) 
February  5,  1886.       } 

My  Dear  Bro.  Marsten: 

I  am  very  sorry  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  in  per- 
son to  contribute  my  mite  towards  making  your  pro- 
posed celebration  of  the  80th  anniversary  of  the 
organization  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  inter- 
esting and  profitable.  If  time  and  the  press  of  im- 
portant duties  admitted,  I  would  be  glad  to  visit  Co- 
lumbus for  the  purpose.  The  occasion,  however,  is 
so  full  of  interest  that  you  will  not  miss  my  presence 
or  what  I  might  be  able  to  contribute  in  the  shape  of 
a  speech. 

I  deem  it  one  of  the  greatest  privileges  of  my  life 
to  have  been  closely  associated  with  the  first  pastor 
of  your  church.  My  relations  to  Dr.  Hoge  were 
peculiarly  pleasant  and  tender.  I  looked  on  him  as 
my  counsellor  and  friend.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  spend 
weeks  with  him  at  Fayette  Springs,  Pa.,  when  his 
health  was  rapidly  declining.  During  that  time  he 
admitted  me  day  after  day  into  the  inner  sanctuary 
of  his  noble  heart.  I  saw  the  man  then  as  I  never 
saw  him  before.  He  told  me  things  about  his  early 
struggles,  as  a  home  missionary  in  Franklin  county, 
and  the  growth  of  your  city,  that  had  all  the  interest 
of  a  novel.     It  devolved  upon  me  to  bury  him,  and 


120  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

preach  his  memorial  sermon,  which    the  congrega- 
tion printed  for  the   use  of  friends. 

My  short  connection  with  the  First  Church  of  Co- 
lumbus was  pre-eminently  delightful.  Nothing  was 
said  or  done  to  inflict  a  single  wound.  I  left  the 
pulpit  and  the  circle  of  friends  with  great  regret. 
The  health  of  my  wife  was  the  sole  reason  of  my 
leaving  Columbus.  I  have  counted  ever  since  the 
people  of  that  charge  among  my  best  friends.  When 
I  have  returned  from  time  to  time  to  renew  the  old 
acquaintance  and  to  talk  over  the  events  of  the  past, 
I  have  been  received  most  cordially.  I  shall  never 
cease  to  have  the  warmest  affection  for  the  First 
Church  of  Columbus  and  her  noble  people. 

Though  I  shall  not  be  able  to  mingle  with  you  in 
person,   I   shall  be   there  in   spirit.      May  the    Lord 
bless  you  and  people  as  you  shall  recount  what  God 
hath  wrought  there  during  the  last  eighty  years. 
Yours  fraternally, 

William  C.  Roberts. 


February  8,  1886.      j 
Rev.  F.  E.  Marsten  : 

My  Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  the  26th  ult.  reached 
me  last  evening,  via  Junction  City,  Kas.,  and  Chat- 
field,   Minn.;  so  that  while   I  write  you   are  in   the 


''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  121 

midst  of  the  special  services  to  which  you  and  the 
Session  so  kindly  invited  me.  I  assure  you  it  would 
have  been  to  me  a  very  great  pleasure  to  be  present 
at  such  an  occasion,  and  contribute  what  I  might  to 
its  interest  \  or,  had  this  been  impossible,  to  have 
sent  my  warmest  greetings,  and  some  of  my  recol- 
lections and  impressions,  particularly  of  the  first  pas- 
tor. Dr.  Hoge.  Clarum  et  venerabile  iiomen.  My 
personal  connection  with  the  church  was  utterly  un- 
thought  of  by  me,  until,  in  the  providence  of  God,  it 
became  a  fact,  and,  though  brief,  it  was  full  of  pleas- 
antness. There  was  the  one  heart  and  one  mind 
among  the  people,  from  the  little  children  up  to  the 
most  aged ;  and  my  memories  of  the  whole  period 
have  no  touch  of  sadness,  except  in  connection  with 
my  own  so  imperfect  reaUzation  of  my  own  ideal  of 
the  pastor  and  preacher.  I  still  hope  that  at  some 
some  day  I  may  sit  again  in  that  sacred  place,  and 
hear  the  present  pastor  set  forth  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ,  and,  peradventure,  in  some  proper 
way,  add  my  testimony  to  his  concerning  the  infinite 
salvation. 

Please  express  my  warmest  regards  to  the  Session, 
and  believe  me  that  I  am 

Yours  very  truly, 

Willis  Lord. 


122  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

Columbus,  O.,  Feb.  8,  1886,  11:30  P.  M. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Marsten  : 

I  regret  to  have  to  write  you  that  I  have  just  re- 
ceived a  telegram  from  my  family  physician,  telling 
me  that  my  presence  is  needed  at  home.  What  the 
cause  is  the  dispatch  does  not  state  definitely,  but  it 
is  evidently  illness  in  my  family,  whether  that  of  Mrs. 
Laidlaw  or  one  of  the  children  I  do  not  know.  But 
I  have  decided  that  I  must  not  delay  a  moment,  so  I 
leave  by  the  midnight  train. 

Yours  very  truly, 

R.  J.  Laidlaw. 


Mr.  S.  P.  Peabody  responded  for  the  Sunday 
school. 

As  the  present  Superintendent  he  urged  all,  espe- 
cially the  parents,  to  take  a  greater  interest  in  the 
work.  His  remarks,  though  brief,  were  received 
with  great  enthusiasm. 

Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  hour  Messrs.  Noble 
and  Green  decHned  to  speak. 

The  Church  Roll  was  then  called  by  the  pastor. 

The  interesting  exercises  closed  with  singing  "  The 
Sweet  Bye  and  Bye."  Mr.  W.  H.  Lott,  the  gifted 
chorister  of  the  congregation,  sang  the  solo  with  a 
feeling  and  pathos  that  moved  every  heart,  and  the 
company  joined  in  the  chorus. 


''Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  123 

So  the  celebration  of  the  Eightieth  Anniversary  of 
the  First  Church  in  Columbus  ended,  and  passed 
down  into  history  as  one  of  the  many  bright  spots 
that  adorn  the  pages  of  its  life. 

THE  BEaUEST   OF  THE  EIGHTIETH  YEAR  TO 
THE   ONE   HUNDREDTH. 

REV.  DR.   N.  S.   SMITH. 

He  spoke  with  glowing  eloquence  of  the  bequest 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  its  eightieth  year,  ought 
to  hand  down  to  the  one  hundredth. 

The  need  of  church  extension,  and  of  larger  use- 
fulness, was  placed  before  the  minds  of  the  people 
in  such  terse  and  burning  words  as  he  knows  so  well 
how  to  use.  Carried  away  by  his  emotions,  he  was 
in  perfect  rapport  with  his  theme  and  his  audience , 
and  it  is  impossible  for  the  compiler  of  this  volume, 
or  the  eloquent  orator  himself,  to  recall  what  was 
the  crownins  effort  of  the  evening. 


ADDRESS    BY   WASHINGTON    GLADDEN. 


[  Owing  to  the  delay  in  the  reception  of  the  following 
address  we  are  compelled  to  insert  it  out  of  its  regular 
order  in   Monday^ s  service^ 

Rev.  Washington  Gladden,  D.  D.,  brought  the 
greetings  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  and 
spoke  as  follows : 


124  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

"The  Congregational  church  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent  is  not  one  of  the  daughters  of 
this  church,  but  one  of  its  grand-daughters,  the  child 
of  one  of  its  children.  It  sometimes  happens  when 
the  tribes  come  together  around  the  ancestral  hearth- 
stone that  there  is  not  room  for  the  grandchildren  at 
the  first  table,  and  they  must  wait  'till  the  second  is 
spread.  That  is  the  reason,  I  suppose,  why  we  were 
not  invited  last  evening;  but  this  is  a  day  of  thanks- 
giving in  these  festivities,  and  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
in  all  well-ordered  homes,  the  young  folks  come  to 
the  table  with  their  elders,  and  are  sometimes  helped 
before  the  rest.  That  is  the  reason  why  I  get  the 
privilege  of  speaking  first  to-night. 

"  When  we  go  back  on  Thanksgiving  Day  to  the 
old  home,  we  expect  to  find  the  grandmother  resting 
in  her  arm  chair  by  the  fireside,  with  her  spectacles 
lifted  to  her  forehead,  her  bible  in  her  lap,  and  her 
knitting  work  in  her  hands,  asleep.  But  this  grand- 
mother is  in  no  such  condition.  We  find  her  alert, 
vigorous,  with  ruddy  face  and  stalwart  frame  and 
vigorous  step,  looking  well  to  the  ways  of  her  house- 
hold, showing  no  marks  of  age  or  decrepitude.  She 
tells  us,  does  she  not  ?  that  she  was  never  in  better 
health;  could  never  do  a  better  day's  work;  never 
felt  less  like  setting  down  in  the  chimney  corner  to 
doze.     And  I  suppose  that  what  she  tells  us  is  per- 


'^  Old  First  Church"  in  Columbus.  125 

fectly  true.  Probably  this  Old  Church,  on  its  eightieth 
birthday,  is  as  strong  and  vigorous  and  hopeful  as  it 
ever  was.  It  ought  to  be.  A  Church  of  Christ  has 
no  right  to  grow  old.  Feebleness  and  decrepitude 
are  no  part  of  its  portion. 

"To  most  organisms  there  is  a  term.  Man's 
bodily  life  seems  to  be  limited  in  its  duration.  The 
days  of  our  years  are  three-score  years  and  ten,  and, 
though  we  sometimes  exceed  that  limit,  we  always 
know  when  we  have  reached  it  that  the  end  is 
not  far  off.  Some  plants  are  annuals,  some  bien- 
nials, some  live  many  years ;  but  to  all  this  life 
there  is  a  term.  There  does  not,  indeed,  appear  to 
be  any  fixed  term  to  the  life  of  a  tree;  we  can 
see  no  reason  why  a  tree  ought  not  go  on  adding 
a  new  layer  of  bark  and  a  new  layer  of  wood  year 
by  year,  indefinitely.  Many  trees  have  lived  to  a 
remarkable  age;  some  of  those  marvellous  Seqtioias 
in  California  have  been  standing  where  they  are  since 
Julius  Caesar  was  a  boy:  the  whole  chronology  of 
the  Christian  era  could  be  inscribed  upon  the  con- 
centric rings  that  mark  the  years  of  their  growth. 
Nevertheless,  even  these  trees  will  wither  and  perish 
in  time.  But  the  life  of  a  church  has  no  natural 
term.  It  has  no  right  to  die.  While  the  world 
stands  its  life  ought  to  go  on  without  decay  or  dimi- 
nution. 


126  Eight  Decades  in  the  Life  of  the 

"  In  the  old  town  in  the  Connecticut  valley  that 
was  once  my  home,  stands  a  church  that  was  planted 
just  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  Only  sixteen 
years  after  the  Pilgrims  landed  they  had  pushed  out 
to  this  remote  wilderness — a  hundred  miles  from  the 
sea  cost — and  planted  several  churches.  This  church 
has  been  standing  there,  on  the  same  ground,  ever 
since.  Several  edifices  in  which  it  has  made  its 
home  have  perished  and  been  replaced  by  larger  and 
more  costly  ones,  but  the  church  lives  on;  and  there 
was  never  a  period  in  its  history  when  it  was  so 
strong,  so  fruitful,  so  full  of  life  and  hope  as  it  is 
to-day. 

"  It  is  almost  thirteen  hundred  years  since  the 
good  monk  Augustine  landed  on  the  Isle  of  Thanet, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  river,  and  planted  a 
church,  which  stands  to-day,  and  was  never  more 
likely  to  live  and  thrive  than  it  is  to-day.  It  is  known 
now  as  Canterbury  Cathedral,  and  the  chief  pastor 
of  this  church  is  the  primate  of  all  England. 

"Churches  ought  to  live.  They  live  by  faith  in 
the  Son  of  God.  They  are  partakers  of  His  life, 
and  His  life  is  the  life  eternal.  So  long  as  they  are 
united  with  Him  they  can  neither  perish  nor  decay. 
Therefore,  my  friends,  I  bring  you  to-night  greeting 
and  congratulation.  This  church  of  Christ,  on  its 
eightieth  birthday,  has  a  promise  of  growth  and  of 


''Old  First  Church''  in  Columbns.  127 

fruitfulness  as  clear  and  sure  as  it  ever  had.  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  the  work  this  church  has  done  in  the 
eighty  years  now  past;  for  the  truth  it  has  cleared 
and  published;  for  the  fidelity  of  its  ministers  and 
its  messengers;  for  the  power  that  it  has  exerted  in 
behalf  of  purity  and  truth  and  righteousness  in  the 
community;  for  the  sorrowing  hearts  that  it  has 
comforted;  for  the  multitude  that  it  has  guided  into 
the  ways  of  life.  And  thanks  be  to  God  for  all  the 
hopes  that  belong  to  this  hour;  for  the  promise  of 
better  work  and  larger  influence,  and  more  abundant 
fruit  through  the  centuries  to  come ! " 


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